Thom Yorke
The Eraser
XL Recordings
By David Chiu
ThomYorke’s solo debut can be as interpreted both as an extension of Radiohead’s sound (which is not much of a stretch) and something quite distinct. Without his band mates rocking behind him, the music on The Eraser (helmed by Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich) is quite spare and ambient (mainly washes of keyboards and electronic beats) and no less haunting and paranoiac. The music, however, is driving and tumultuous but consistent. His sensuous croon evokes the songs’ sense of despair. Even if it wasn’t a stop-gap measure before Radiohead’s next album, Yorke’s solo foray hold its own. With a mantra of “The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear” on the title song, it’s hard not to be enveloped into Yorke’s world.
NewBeats 