Album Review: Atoms For Peace - Amok

A clatter of beats and funky rhythm opens this album, reflecting the Afrobeat influences that Thom Yorke reportedly claims to have been an inspiration across this album. It's surprising that this album doesn't ever explode with the wild vibrant energy associated with Afrobeat. Instead Atoms For Peace craft a groove that wiggles gently under Yorke's ghostly hymnal vocals. As Amok proceeds it does not yield chaos and destruction but rather feels like a survey of a post-apocalyptic wasteland that simply unfolds Before Your Very Eyes. The vibe is disconnected, indifferent and, as most would expect of Yorke, deeply introspective.

Despite contributions from Flea, session drummer extraordinaire Joey Waronker and percussionist Mauro Refosco, much of this album sounds heavily edited and sunk deep into sensuous melancholy techno pop. There is an accent on repetition but these songs get by on fairly traditional verse and chorus. Dropped sounds like a techno rave anthem turned inside out, and introduced into a post-everything environment it evolves into something else. Knowing how to walk the line between accessibility and abstraction, layers of texture are reconciled with liquid grooves and dreamy melodies.

Flea's minimal pulsating bass gives plenty of rubbery bump to the mix. Lush evocative synthetic tones add moody atmosphere. Smothered across this album, Yorke's distinctive vocals shift in and out of focus, at times adding an extra layer of texture to the mix but coming into sharp focus with lines like “I could care less” or “It doesn't mean anything”, which are delivered with the sweetest hooks. It is mellifluous stuff that comes together beautifully on Reverse Running and the title track. Smooth listening that ought to tide you over until the next Radiohead album.