release date: Feb. 18, 2011
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,98]
producer: Nigel Godrich
label: TBD Records - nationality: England, UK
8th studio album by Radiohead is an originally self-released album produced by Nigel Godrich following 3½ years after the acclaimed In Rainbows (Oct. 2007). The album marks a turn to a stronger experimental composing process with recordings of studio sessions as is without having written down chords or lyrics prior to the sessions - pure improvs, that is, and with additional post-production of sampling and (other) programming.
I really enjoyed In Rainbows and consider it the band's best, and perhaps therefore I find it hard to really embrace this one. The album appears to continue in a similar lane, but they're not the same. It's simply too much of the same: compositions going on and on without a clear aim other than to dwell at a sudden impulse but lacking sufficient framework to call it distinct compositions to my liking. As all good improvs, the album reflect good ideas and moments of synergy but it sort of drowns in a following moment. Yes, these guys are truly talented musicians, but this is not... I mean... I may aso write stuff with a beginning, not sure where it takes me... was that a middle section? Here's a new statement, and here comes an end! Did that make much sense?
The King of Limbs sounds like Radiohead, and it sure is, I guess, but I like 'em so much more when they pursue fully structured ideas. Best track here is "Lotus Flower", which sounds like an outtake from In Rainbows.
[ allmusic.com, 👉NME 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]
