Despite being a big Radiohead fan, I've never gotten around to checking out any of Thom Yorke's solo material until now. This record dropped a couple of weeks ago alongside an arty Netflix short film featuring 3 of the songs and some more of Thom's meme worthy dancing. ANIMA explores Yorke's more electronic leaning tendencies that are apparent in Radiohead's more experimental albums. ANIMA, however, feels a whole lot more consistent than the likes of Amnesiac or The King Of Limbs. Perhaps it is because Thom is only focused on electronic sounds and textures, making the album feel less like a balancing act, and more of a full exploration of the genre.
Another distinction I feel between this and a lot of Radiohead's electronic work is the emphasis on more ambience and texture, as opposed to the hypnotic rhythms they tend to build their tracks around. Loops and rhythm are still an integral part to the album, but it feels as if they're not the focus this time. For example, the opener, Traffic, is built up from layers of looping synthetic beats, but swells of synthesisers rise and fall and different elements are introduced throughout the track. Thom's vocals are soaked in reverb, creating a strange yet human atmosphere as they contrast to the music they're paired with. Twist starts off with a looped sample of Thom just saying "twist" which slowly fades out of the mix as ethereal vocals glide over the top. A sample of kids cheering is also introduced which gives the track a slight sense of fun. However the track feels like it should've ended after its first phase, as it really feels dragged out over its 7 minute runtime. Not The News has tense beebs and boops driving the track forward with some momentum as Thom's voice sounds paranoid and confused, which echo effects applied at just the right moment to add to the tension. Strings come in slowly as the song moves forward, turning it from something tense and synthetic, to something lush and rich. This paranoia carries on through the seamless transition into The Axe, where Yorke wails 'I Thought We Had A Deal' over these chiming guitar notes buried in effects lower in the mix.
Dawn Chorus is built from some incredibly sad, slightly dissonant chords and not much else. Yorke's deadpan, emotionless depiction of modern day to day actions with lines such as "You've quit your job again" and "I don't like leaving, doors shut". This completely devastated track evokes similar feelings to the likes of Motion Picture Soundtrack and True Love Waits, as if there is nothing left for him in this life. I Am a Very Rude Person fits in rather well afterwards, with it's spacious beats and cool bass guitar refreshing the album after the defeated atmosphere of the last track. Impossible Knots is also built around a chunky looped bass riff and some sped up drum patterns, courtesy of Radiohead's drummer Philip Selway. Honestly at this point it doesn't sound to far of the basis of a typical Foals track. Synths layer on top of this, along with more of Thom's ethereal vocals.
Last I Heard (... He Was Circling The Drain) is my least favourite of the bunch, reminding me of Radiohead's more underwhelming electronic tracks, such The Gloaming. The siri-esque computerised vocals on the closer, Runwayaway, also don't really appeal to me; and the track as a whole doesn't feel like it progresses to anywhere particularly interesting.
This album has certainly become one of my favourite releases this year, with these engaging ambient tracks which have so much detail and texture to them. The beats and grooves drive the tracks without them feeling as if the rhythm is the sole focus of them. It's a really great album and a good way to follow on from the likes of Kid A and Amnesiac through to full-on electronica.
Top Tracks: Traffic, Dawn Chorus, I Am A Very Rude Person, Not The News, The Axe, Impossible Knots
8/10
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