The Northern Light

"The Eraser" Thom Yorke Label: Xl Recordings Released: July 11, 2006 [Click to enlarge]

Very carefully, very quietly, Thom Yorke announced that he had recorded a solo album. This was in May. Two months later, his album was finally released.

A few things before we go on:

This album is not Radiohead. It does not sound like Radiohead. The band is not involved with the record.

Thom Yorke has not "gone solo." He is still part of that wonderful rock phenomenon called Radiohead. The band is currently touring and plans to release an album early next year.

That said, Thom Yorke likes electronica. Instead of writing one or two tracks that pay homage to electronic music, Yorke has made an entire album with a sound that lives in the same neighborhood as The Postal Service and The Notwist.

While those two groups show bravery in their music, the Radiohead frontman shows fearlessness in his, abandoning all notions of solid landscape. The production on Yorke's album feels something like a flying dream in a soft thunderstorm.

The album starts simple enough €" different, but harmlessly so €" then quickly takes off into a world of abstractions that cannot be likened to anything based in the comfort of reality. Somewhere between the first and second track, one feels weightless, damp and pelted with synthesized noise.

And though everything sounds as if it should be abrasive, the album offers protection from its own elements. It allows the listener to be surrounded without being smothered. On "Black Swan" the muted bass softens the blow of Yorke's repeated "this is fucked up, fucked up," so much that even the most sensitive of ears would find it difficult to take offense.

After one has absorbed the music itself, the hardest part of the album to take is its homogenous sound. Though it shouldn't, it may come as a surprise to some that each song on "The Eraser" is a fair representation of the album. There isn't a made-for-mass-consumption, or experimental-beyond-the-realm-of-the-rest-of-the-record, song anywhere to be found; there is no point where the direction of the album suddenly (or even gradually) changes.

Then there is Thom himself. He doesn't give us any surprises. It's impressive his is the only voice on the album. Thom sings on every track, not allowing a single instrumental piece (which has almost become obligatory on electronica albums). He sings backup on every song, chiming in for the creepy background mumblings that can be heard on several tracks and the gorgeous choral harmony that is most notable on the title piece.

Thom does just about everything he can to bring out the beauty of his own solo album. In fact, "The Eraser" is most easily described as beautiful. It really isn't much else.

If you're already a fan of Radiohead, you've heard a song from "The Eraser" that strikes your fancy, or you're just interested in hearing it, then pick the album up.

You'll like it.

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