Almost everyone finds nightmares a little unnerving, even if they don’t like to admit it. They seem to bring to light all your fears, and, especially when you’re a kid, leave you with the feeling that there’s something greater than you out there, in the invisible realm of the paranormal.
Now, thanks to Radiohead’s eighth studio album, released Feb. 18, I’m being reminded of that feeling once again.
“The King of Limbs” follows 2007’s award-winning “In Rainbows,” which made headlines when the band chose to release it online under a pay-what-you-want option in an effort to circumvent the recording industry.
The new album, also self-released, stays true to form for Radiohead, but there’s an eerie ambience to the album that sets it apart from previous releases.
As the album begins, a mixture of futuristic and techno sounds fade in alongside hints of drum beats and a jazzy bass. Ghostly background vocals and an otherworldly music break only add to the grim tone.
From there the album continues along the same upbeat pace, perfect for an action movie or a soundtrack for running a marathon. A motif begins to emerge: the struggle whether or not to hold onto a power that will eventually destroy you.
In “Lotus Flower,” this idea is magnified to its fullest, with lead vocalist Thom Yorke singing first, “And now it won’t take root / And now I set you free / I set you free” only to later say, “I can’t kick the habit / Just to feed my fast ballooning head / Listen to your heart.”
But at this point, the album pivots, moving into a stage of acceptance with a slower power ballad, “Codex.” Nothing more than hauntingly beautiful vocals and a soft piano with a few minor backup instruments, the song offers a secure understanding of the singer’s decision whether to give up or give in.
The album resolves with “Give Up the Ghost” and “Separator,” both of which elaborate upon the theme of acceptance. “Separator” says it best, Yorke singing, “I’m a heart in cold ground / Like I’m falling out of bed / From a long and weary dream / Finally I’m free of all the weight I’ve been carrying.”
By the end, “The King of Limbs” has taken us on a journey, showing us the process of outgrowing those demons that haunt us. What’s surprising is how succinctly they were able to do so, telling a complex narrative in a mere eight tracks.
Whether you have been on a journey as tormented as the one presented by Radiohead or not, it’s impossible not to be shaken by the quality of this album. “The King of Limbs” further cements the band’s reputation for producing albums that amaze.
“The King of Limbs” may remind you of your most ghostly nightmares, but the experience is worth the chills.
