In rainbows

Description

In Rainbows is not an album by Radiohead like the others: gone is the principle that placed alienation at the heart of the search for beauty; here, it is rather openness and simplicity that are the order of the day. The tone is soothing, and Thom lends his voice with calm and serenity. He is superb on deceptively stripped-down tracks like “Nude.” The album’s high points are easy to recognize, as with “Reckoner,” which underpins the whole structure; yet one does not turn down a few more tense incursions, such as the energetic “Bodysnatchers” or the magnificent, but unsettling, like a looming threat, “All I need,” which nevertheless ends on a note of hope. The record is well worth the detour and opens up a new dimension for the band. Long live Radiohead! Openmag