New Radiohead: “Super-Collider”

Despite all the bleeps, bloops, squeals, screeches, and ondes martenots that makes a Radiohead song sound like a Radiohead song, most of their compositions come into the world rather quietly at Thom Yorke’s piano or guitar. This song, tentatively titled “Super-Collider,” was premiered at the first Dublin show on June 7 (luck of the Irish, eh?).

I have no doubt that the song will go through countless arrangements, re-arrangements, title changes, and will possibly not be recorded for a decade. But it’s still exciting nonetheless to hear new stuff being road-tested — especially in such a crude (but beautiful) early form. Right now it sounds like a cross between “Backdrifts” and “Faust Arp.” Just wait until Jonny Greenwood gets hold of it.

Speaking of Jonny, he and Thom did an impromptu live performance of “The Rip,” a track off the new Portishead album, Third. It’s a nice cover: Two ‘heads are indeed better than one.