No Radiohead album can ever be described as easy listening, but fans of Oxford's prog-rock giants may be relieved to hear this partial return to guitar rock, writes Andy Ffrench.
The electronica which dominated Kid A and Amnesiac remains, but is used more sparingly to adorn traditional song structures.
There are enough sudden tempo changes and
unidentifiable sound effects to make Hail a 14-track
adrenaline rush. It is perfect driving music - just right for stop-start conditions on the A34 during rush hour.
The album title refers to the election 'stolen' by George W Bush, but Thom Yorke's songs seem as much
influenced by personal as well as political experiences.
The singer's first child was born in 2001, round about the time he was penning lyrics for the new album, and in the shortest, most understated but affecting song I Will, Yorke sings quietly:
I won't let this happen to my children.
Meet the real world coming out of my shell
With white elephants
Sitting ducks.
I will
Rise up
Is Yorke, perhaps listening to bulletins from the Afghan war, fearing for the safety of his children in the face of global conflicts?
Some of his lyrics are typically abstract, but key phrases offer an insight into his sensitive psyche.
However, there are times when the listener would need a chat with Yorke to discover the origin or meaning of
certain songs.
In Go To Sleep, his reference to the 'rag and bone man' left me scratching my head. Maybe they still run up and down Cowley Road from time to time.
There are moments of pure pop, but they carry Radiohead's trademark reminder that the world can be a scary place.
Recorded in Oxfordshire and Los Angeles, with the help of producer Nigel Godrich, Hail To The Thief is a challenging but rewarding take on life in 2003.
Despite the pessimistic tone of some of the lyrics, the latest offering from 'Oxford's Angels' is upbeat and
curiously life-affirming.
I look forward to my next trip down the A34!
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