As expected, Thom Yorke performed a solo version of “Reckoner” for the premiere event for The Age of Stupid.
More from Stereogum:
Reportedly the Radiohead fountainhead was meant to perform the global warming docudrama’s title track (Thom hates global warming, FYI), but instead we got a solo version of “Reckoner.”
L.A. Weekly is reporting that Thom Yorke was a surprise guest DJ last night at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.
Thom Yorke spun at Tropicana at the Roosevelt Hotel last night, according to many Tweets. The Tuesday evening gig, normally a weekly event hosted by Ashtar Command/Yum Yum/Paul McCartney DJ Chris Holmes, turned up a notch when longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich showed up with Yorke, who jumped on the turntables (and apparently played Major Lazer). A source says that the surprise DJ set was totally unplanned and therefore unannounced. What Yorke’s up to in LA is top secret. We’ve heard rumors, but we’re not allowed to spread them just yet.
What is Thom doing in L.A.? Hmmm….
Stanley wrote us today about the artwork for “Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses” (or “feelingpulledapartbyhorses” as he and Thom write it). He says there is some vagueness and lack of information about the sleeve for the album, and for good reason:
“its all black ink. no colour. the outer sleeve is lasercut into the design of woodcut lines. the inner sleeve is a design made with spraypaint. when you pull the sleeve out a tiny wonder occurs. it doesnt translate well to digital form. youll need a record player to get the most out of the release.”
We can’t wait to see what the “tiny wonder” is. You can pre-order the 12 inch vinyl and see how cool this will be for yourself by heading to the w.a.s.t.e. shop.
Thom wrote on DAS this week about his part in the upcoming film, The Age of Stupid. He writes:
hi
there is a film that is getting a lot of attention call Aged of Stupid. i’ve seen it and it stays with you-
especially in light of the Copenhagen summit coming up in December where our glorious leaders must decide how we structure our plans to tackle climate change.The global premier of it will happen on the 21st of september or 22nd depending on your time zone.
There are cinemas participating in over 50 countries – If you want to be part of it, you can buy a ticket for the one nearest to you by going to the age of stupid websiteAfter the screening, there will be live discussion thing via global satellite link up and after that I will be playing Reckoner live from an undisclosed location. (!)
Thom wrote on DAS today confirming the rumor that two new tracks will be available to download soon. The rumor had been that September 22 was the release date, but it appears that the 21st is the correct one. Also, Thom makes no mention of either track being associated with the Twilight sequel New Moon. Take it away, Thom:
Dear Sir or Madam
This is to inform you of the release of two more bits of work shortly.
They are loosely under the Thom Yorke name this time, although these days its all getting kind of blurry.
FeelingPulledApartbyHorses is written & played by Jonny and I and is a radical rework of an old tune thats been kicking around without a home since 2001? i think.
The Hollow Earth is a bass menace that was born out of the Eraser period but needed a little more time.
Both were produced by Nigel Godrich as ever. And mastered by Bob Ludwig.
They are being put out on 12″ with sliced sleeve by Stanley and Tchock.
My sources tell me this will be available from the 21st of September if you’re interested.. On sale in the w.a.s.t.e part of our website (with a gratis download.)
Or you can go buy it in a good record shop if you are lucky enough to have one near you.
Then later on there will be like a normal download thing i think around the 6th of Oct through the usual channels.And so it goes. all the best
Thom
In addition to this, Thom will performing at the Age of Stupid event on September 21. From Paste Magazine:
The U.S. premiere of director Franny Armstrong’s eco docudrama, The Age of Stupid, will be bolstered by a unique worldwide, in-theater event on Sept. 21, including live satellite coverage of field scientists across the globe, spanning from New York, to the Himalayas and all the way to a remote, Indonesian rain forest.
The Age of Stupid LIVE from New York is hitting 444 movie theaters nationwide and begins with a viewing of the film, a dramatization that forecasts the state of life on Earth decades into the future, where warnings of climate change were ignored over the years. The story is told through a global archivist in 2055, played by Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite (Usual Suspects).
A panel discussion will follow the showing, and will feature an interesting mix of world-renown scientists, political figures and celebrities, including former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and The X-Files’ Gillian Anderson. The event will wrap up with a performance by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who will be playing an acoustic version of the film’s title track.
The evening’s most resourceful festivity will be a live, green-carpet procession in New York’s Winter Garden, where guests will breeze in via bicycle, solar car, rickshaw, sailboats (!?) and other green means of transportation.
The Age of Stupid LIVE from New York is presented by NCM Fathom and Spanner Films in high definition. It debuts Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Tickets are available at participating theaters and online at FathomEvents.com.
Because of the same date, it’s easier for us to think that “Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses” and “The Hollowed Earth” have nothing to do with New Moon, and everything to do with Age of Stupid. What do you think?
From Rolling Stone:
First Radiohead provided fans with two brand new songs, and now it appears frontman Thom Yorke is on the verge of doing the same: According to Canadian entertainment site Exclaim, Yorke will release a new 12?’ single carrying two new tracks, “The Hollow Earth” and “Apart By Horses” on September 22nd. As Rock Daily previously reported, Yorke recorded a song for the upcoming Twilight sequel New Moon, and judging by the timing of the single’s release, it’s fair to assume that one or possibly both of the songs are Yorke’s contribution to the film. The soundtrack’s first single, Death Cab for Cutie’s “Meet Me on the Equinox,” will debut September 13th, and the film itself hits theaters October 20th.
Sources at pressing plant Sonic Unyon, who are reportedly preparing the single, told Exclaim that the single has “really awesome packaging and artwork,” and that only a limited number of vinyl — probably less than 10,000 copies — will be made. The label handling the release is TBD Records, the company Radiohead created in a partnership with ATO for the physical release of In Rainbows. As Rock Daily previously reported, after a period of new material dormancy since the 2007 release of In Rainbows, the past month has seen Radiohead suddenly and secretly release a pair of new tracks, “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” and “These Are My Twisted Words.”
While there’s not much information regarding “The Hollow Earth” — though the title conjures up some of the lyrical imagery in Yorke’s other recent new solo song reportedly titled “The Present Tense” — “Apart By Horses” does have some Radiohead history. Back before In Rainbows “Reckoner” was In Rainbows‘ “Reckoner,” a song bearing that name with the parenthetical title “Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses” was performed a few times at Radiohead concerts. As opposed to the melodic centerpiece that surprised fans when it appeared on In Rainbows, that original “Reckoner” was one of the more harder-edged, guitar-driven songs in Radiohead’s recent output.
Radiohead have often resurrected fan favorite live songs for eventual release—In Rainbows‘ “Nude” and IR bonus track “Last Flowers” date back to the OK Computer days—so it’s possible Yorke might be bringing back the original “Reckoner,” which he last performed solo at a Trade Justice Movement rally in 2005. (Rock Daily covered the tale of the two “Reckoner” in the preview and live blog of In Rainbows.)
(thanks to David)