It's not that often a CD comes along that I really have to listen to closely and try and figure out where all the sounds are coming from. This is one. Where OK Computer had interesting textures and great songs, Kid A has textures, deconstructions, keyboards, drum machines - and lots of experimentation. There's nods to Eno's work (Passengers, Apollo, Nerve Net), strange dub effects, distortion, pitch manipulation and much more. Nigel Godrich is proving his mettle as a first- class creative engineer again, yet obviously this has quite a bit to do with the band wanting to muck about in the studio too. The kids will hate this since there are no hits, but for the recording geeks out there it's a big batch of fuckin' ear candy. (there's a recording diary at: www.radiohead.com - record available via some major label)
Music Reviews | No. 20
Tenor & Fallen Angels CD (hatOlogy), Nation Time CD (Atavistic)
by Steve Silverstein
While it has grown common for rock bands to record on cassette decks in houses, jazz artists still tend to capture their work in studios. In 1976, before most rock bands recorded themselves at home,...