 Radiohead overindulges in complex and unappealing rhythms in the first half of the album, delivering the most experimental work of their career. RADIOHEAD - THE KING OF LIMBS (2011) The King of Limbs, Radiohead's 8th studio album, released in 2011, and produced by Nigel Godrich, can be divided into two parts: the first, containing unnecessary excesses of experimental rhythms, undermining the experience with poorly synchronized instrumentation, diverging from the well-executed In Rainbows (2007); the second, a glamorous elevation of the state of mind in a gradual process of inner knowledge. This contrast between the two sides makes the work curious, as it sounds like Yin-Yang, balancing universal forces, even though the journey is short with its 37-minute duration (it is the shortest work in their official discography). "Bloom" opens the album with an infinite piano loop and a complex and peculiar rhythm, difficult to accept. Yorke's melody stands out as it veers off course, but it is a tiring journey; "Morning Mr Magpie" has a faster and more acceptable rhythm while the protagonist searches for his magic (melody) accompanied by an electric guitar that serves as a balance for the equilibrium of forces, while the chorus gains softer tones with the hi-hat exit; "Little by Little" overemphasizes the rhythm, though it shines in the lyrics, being another atypical experimental bet, evident in the instrumental "Feral", which again shrinks into a loop in an unpleasant rhythm during the distorted instrumentation. In the second half of the album, "Lotus Flower" emerges with an air of mystery guided by a synthetic bass while Yorke claims there is an empty space inside his heart, continuously using falsetto. The metaphor of "opening like lotus flowers" stands out amid the liberating recital, giving way to "Codex" ascending with its slow-paced piano and soft background chorus, establishing itself as the best song on the album, especially with the deep, pleasant, and mystical melody; "the water is clear… and innocent…", Yorke recites with feeling, elevating the album and the soul.
"Give Up the Ghost" provides another pleasant journey without the need for troubled and robotic rhythms, serving as a kind of relaxing meditation in the arms of nature; finally, "Separator" carries the weight of a relentless struggle and attempts to break free from vices along the sweet melody, accompanied by a well-marked rhythm throughout the process, until the electric guitar joins the verses and enhances the listener's dreams, balancing the album in its two distinct halves. ★★★ (out of 5 stars) Radiohead Collection (9 Studio Albums): Pablo Honey (1993), The Bends (1995), OK Computer (1997), Kid A (2000), Amnesiac (2001), Hail to the Thief (2003), In Rainbows (2007), The King of Limbs (2011), and A Moon Shaped Pool (2016). |
