With the Smile very busy and the future of Radiohead unclear for the time being, drummer Philip Selway has announced a new solo album. Strange Dance is out February 24 through Bella Union, and he has shared the title track.
The guest-heavy album features Hannah Peel, Adrian Utley, Quinta, Marta Salogni, Laura Moody and more. A press release says that Selway envisioned it as a "Carole King record if she collaborated with the pioneering electronic composer Daphne Oram and invited him to drum on it." Ironically, Selway doesn't actually drum on the album, as he instead invited Valentina Magaletti to handle percussion.
Strange Dance is said to be broader in sound than his first couple of solo albums (2010's Familial and 2014's Weatherhouse), featuring strings, brass and synths. It was produced by Marta Salogni at Evolution Studios (where he also recorded his 2017 score for Let Me Go).
"One of the things I've liked about this record is it's me as a 55-year-old not trying to hide that fact," Selway said of the album. "It feels kind of unguarded rather than seeing that ageing process as something that needs to be hidden."
Get a taste of the album via a visualizer for title track "Check for Signs of Life" below. Strange Dance is available to pre-order here.
Strange Dance:
1. Little Things
2. What Keeps You Awake at Night
3. Check for Signs of Life
4. Picking Up Pieces
5. The Other Side
6. Strange Dance
7. Make It Go Away
8. The Heart of It All
9. Salt Air
10. There'll Be Better Days
The guest-heavy album features Hannah Peel, Adrian Utley, Quinta, Marta Salogni, Laura Moody and more. A press release says that Selway envisioned it as a "Carole King record if she collaborated with the pioneering electronic composer Daphne Oram and invited him to drum on it." Ironically, Selway doesn't actually drum on the album, as he instead invited Valentina Magaletti to handle percussion.
Strange Dance is said to be broader in sound than his first couple of solo albums (2010's Familial and 2014's Weatherhouse), featuring strings, brass and synths. It was produced by Marta Salogni at Evolution Studios (where he also recorded his 2017 score for Let Me Go).
"One of the things I've liked about this record is it's me as a 55-year-old not trying to hide that fact," Selway said of the album. "It feels kind of unguarded rather than seeing that ageing process as something that needs to be hidden."
Get a taste of the album via a visualizer for title track "Check for Signs of Life" below. Strange Dance is available to pre-order here.
Strange Dance:
1. Little Things
2. What Keeps You Awake at Night
3. Check for Signs of Life
4. Picking Up Pieces
5. The Other Side
6. Strange Dance
7. Make It Go Away
8. The Heart of It All
9. Salt Air
10. There'll Be Better Days