Curious as to what Radiohead have in store for us after the remarkable success of In Rainbows? Well, if you were surprised by Kid A, their next album might pack an even bigger departure.
Speaking with the NME, bassist Colin Greenwood explained the band's influences have come from their recent tour of South America with electronic pioneers Kraftwerk. "We're currently playing with Kraftwerk here in South America and it's been very inspiring to see them every night and hear their timeless and beautiful melodies," he said. "Their conceptual approach to music is inspiring. Writing songs about industry, leisure, technology. Plus, their reworking and rewriting of 'Radio-Activity' so that it's become an anti-nuclear protest song is the most intense moment of their fantastic set."
Sure, Radiohead being inspired by Kraftwerk isn't that much of a stretch but try this one on for size: Sepultura. According to Greenwood, the band have absorbed certain elements of the Brazilian metal giants. "We watched Sepultura a few years ago at a Dutch festival lay low all before them with their dark Brazilian candoble music - Brazilian voodoo. They played with rainforest instruments made of palm twine and beans. It wasn't as loud, but it was quite disturbing."
"On the ethnic instrument tip, Jonny [Greenwood, Radiohead guitarist] picked up a tormento in Chil," added Greenwood. "I haven't seen it, I've just heard it rattle from inside a very big yellow plastic bag. It's like a washboard tambourine, I think. But Thom [Yorke] won't let him play it on 'Reckoner'!"
Speaking with the NME, bassist Colin Greenwood explained the band's influences have come from their recent tour of South America with electronic pioneers Kraftwerk. "We're currently playing with Kraftwerk here in South America and it's been very inspiring to see them every night and hear their timeless and beautiful melodies," he said. "Their conceptual approach to music is inspiring. Writing songs about industry, leisure, technology. Plus, their reworking and rewriting of 'Radio-Activity' so that it's become an anti-nuclear protest song is the most intense moment of their fantastic set."
Sure, Radiohead being inspired by Kraftwerk isn't that much of a stretch but try this one on for size: Sepultura. According to Greenwood, the band have absorbed certain elements of the Brazilian metal giants. "We watched Sepultura a few years ago at a Dutch festival lay low all before them with their dark Brazilian candoble music - Brazilian voodoo. They played with rainforest instruments made of palm twine and beans. It wasn't as loud, but it was quite disturbing."
"On the ethnic instrument tip, Jonny [Greenwood, Radiohead guitarist] picked up a tormento in Chil," added Greenwood. "I haven't seen it, I've just heard it rattle from inside a very big yellow plastic bag. It's like a washboard tambourine, I think. But Thom [Yorke] won't let him play it on 'Reckoner'!"
