Any
project that sports Thom Yorke’s name is definitely going to be something of a
creative journey that requires an undeniably large amount of will power to
overcome the seductive charm his music possesses. The Radiohead front man’s
latest venture brings together drummer Joey Waronker, fellow Radiohead producer
Nigel Godrich, Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco and Red Hot Chili Peppers’
Flea working the bass. This unique blend of musicians from different scopes
have rightfully named themselves Atoms for Peace after the 1953 Nobel Prize
nominated speech given by Dwight Eisenhower.
In the
band’s first collection of songs entitled Amok,
there is a unique fusion of electronic synths, highly addicting bass lines, and
psychedelic rhythms all while maintaining the powerful undertone of cryptic
lyrics Yorke fans have come to know. Surprisingly, the album came to fruition
from only three days of hardcore jam sessions and months of polishing by
Godrich and Yorke. Their artistic endeavor shows threads of revelatory grooves
that keep the album sounding slightly unconventional and fresh.
Immediately
upon listening to this supergroup’s album, it is clear that there is a much more
complex set of instrumentals at play when compared to Yorke’s most recent solo
effort The Eraser. This is a welcome
feature that blends well with his lustrous, powerful vocals. The track “Default”
is a high-end sound design that is a complete example of how Atoms for Peace
combines woody snaps and dynamic electronics into their experimental pop
project. It is one of the album’s many instances where it exhibits a strong
possibility to reach dance floor demographics that even Yorke’s Radiohead
hasn’t necessarily been able to reach due to the much more electronic sound Amok is going for.
Other
songs that contribute to the distinction of a uniquely Atoms for Peace sound are
“Ingenue,” “Dropped,” and the title trac. These tracks captivate Yorke
and Godrich’s successful synthesizing that manifest in a pleasing fluidity
between tracks. They all progress along in a harmonious fashion, which is
mainly because of the top-notch production and seamless integration of
electronica synths. It is often easy to forget this band is a product of
alternate group’s until Yorke’s distinct vocals light up the songs in the same
way he ignites the Radiohead albums. The sound Amok goes for is distant than that of the diverse member’s other bands,
but it doesn’t stray too far as a result of Thom Yorke’s vocals.
Atoms
for Peace’s debut album Amok isn’t
attempting to tower into the same landscape as the group’s various native
bands. Instead it stems into its own category of artistry, even if it did come
around from a three day drunken stint. This highly anticipated release was well
worth the wait and a probable psychedelic experience is inevitable given the
nature of Yorke’s progression into mind numbing electronics.
Grade: A-
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