The time of year when Thom Yorke starts popping up in random locations and debuting new Radiohead songs is the happiest time of any year. That’s just what happened at the Pathway to Paris concert on Friday night, where he shared a bill with Patti Smith, Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers (and his own Atoms For Peace project), as well as many other guests.
The YouTube and Spotify-despising frontman took the opportunity to unveil the acoustic skeletons of two new songs, “Desert Island Disk” and “Silent Spring”. At the 2:28 mark of the latter, Yorke can be heard saying, “This is Johnny’s bit,” boosting confidence that these are in fact new Radiohead songs. But more importantly, perhaps most importantly, is the thread of crucially necessary protest uprising weaving through the track, particularly on the 2:40 mark: “Call upon the people – people have the power…” followed by “the numbers don’t decide, the system is a lie / the river run dry, the wings of a butterfly”
A pedestrian protest line, but one desperately needed with the gravity of Yorke’s voice in our modern times. Especially when he promises that we’ll “take back what is ours”.
The tracks join two others among our favorites as potential inclusions on Radiohead’s forthcoming new album, including the incredible “Identikit” and “Cut a Hole”.
“Desert Island Disk”
“Silent Spring”
Bonnaroo 2016 headliners. I’m calling it now.
