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| A Moon Shaped Pool | |
|---|---|
| Name | A Moon Shaped Pool |
| Type | studio |
| Artist | Radiohead |
| Released | 2016 |
| Recorded | 2014–2016 |
| Genre | Alternative rock, art rock |
| Length | 52:08 |
| Label | XL Recordings, TBD |
| Producer | Nigel Godrich |
A Moon Shaped Pool is the ninth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in 2016. The record followed a decade of global touring, solo projects by band members, and collaborations with orchestras and visual artists. It was delivered amid legal disputes, shifting music distribution models, and renewed interest in analog and orchestral approaches to contemporary rock.
Radiohead formed in Oxfordshire and rose to prominence with albums like OK Computer, Kid A, and In Rainbows. By the 2010s members pursued solo work: Thom Yorke released The Eraser and collaborated with Atoms for Peace, Jonny Greenwood composed for There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread, Colin Greenwood worked with The Smile and various session projects, Ed O'Brien explored ambient textures, and Philip Selway recorded solo material. Recording sessions for the album took place in studios associated with Nile Rodgers's contemporaries and in residential settings linked to Abbey Road Studios, RAK Studios, and producer Nigel Godrich. Arrangements involved London Contemporary Orchestra, orchestral conductor Robert Ziegler-style collaborators, and engineers who had worked with Brian Eno, Steve Albini, and Alan Parsons. Legal issues with EMI and management disputes paralleled negotiations with XL Recordings and affected scheduling. The band enlisted string players experienced with Philip Glass and ensembles connected to film composers like Jonny Greenwood's collaborators from BBC Symphony Orchestra sessions.
Compositions drew on motifs associated with earlier Radiohead works such as Paranoid Android-era dynamics and the electronic minimalism of Kid A. Themes include climate anxieties linked to reporting by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, personal rupture narratives resonant with public events like the Iraq War and cultural responses surrounding Celebrity scandals involving public figures, and motifs of memory often evoked in literature by Virginia Woolf and films by Stanley Kubrick. Melodic material incorporated chamber-pop sensibilities reminiscent of Scott Walker and arrangements invoking Shostakovich-inspired string tensions. Rhythms and textures reference collaborations across scenes including Thom Yorke's work with Modeselektor and Four Tet, while harmonic language suggested affinities with film scores by Jonny Greenwood and ambient approaches used by Aphex Twin and Brian Eno. Lyrical allusions intersect with modernist poetics of T.S. Eliot and contemporary reportage in outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times.
The album was announced amid a changing industry landscape shaped by Spotify, Apple Music, and independent distribution exemplified by Bandcamp. Promotion included cryptic artwork strategies akin to campaigns by Bjork and surprise releases used by Beyoncé. Artwork employed visual artists associated with the Radiohead aesthetic and galleries linked to Tate Modern and Saatchi Gallery. Singles and radio premieres involved outlets like BBC Radio 6 Music, NPR Music, and Pitchfork. An accompanying tour referenced venues such as Wembley Stadium, Madison Square Garden, and festivals including Glastonbury Festival and Coachella though live performances were curated differently from previous global tours promoted by agencies like AEG Presents and Live Nation.
Critics from publications such as The Guardian, The New York Times, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NME, The Telegraph, and The Independent praised the album's orchestration, emotional depth, and production. Reviews drew comparisons to works by Scott Walker, Nick Cave, David Bowie, and film composers like Ennio Morricone. Some commentary referenced scholarly readings from institutions like Oxford University Press and cultural criticism in The Atlantic. Year-end lists from BBC, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NME included the album, with awards attention from organizations such as the Grammy Awards and nominations at ceremonies like the Mercury Prize.
The record debuted high on charts including the UK Albums Chart, the Billboard 200, and national charts in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Sweden. Sales metrics reflected physical formats' resurgence noted by market analysts at IFPI and chart tracking by Nielsen SoundScan. Vinyl sales echoed broader trends reported by RIAA and independent retailers affiliated with Rough Trade and Amoeba Music.
Multiple editions were issued by XL Recordings including digital, CD, vinyl, and special editions with alternate mixes and artwork. Several retailers and institutions such as Amazon (company), HMV, and independent record shops offered exclusive bundles. Some tracks were reissued in archival series associated with labels like Parlophone and special releases coordinated with anniversary retrospectives by entities like Rhino Entertainment.
Production was led by long-time collaborator Nigel Godrich with mastering engineers connected to Abbey Road Studios and mixing by personnel experienced with Radiohead and contemporaries such as Beck and Arcade Fire. Session musicians included members from London Contemporary Orchestra, string arrangers linked to Jonny Greenwood's film projects, and backing vocalists who had worked with artists like PJ Harvey and Elbow. Management and legal counsel involved firms previously engaged with XL Recordings and industry advisors linked to Universal Music Group disputes.
The album influenced subsequent work across indie, orchestral rock, and electronic scenes, inspiring artists such as The National, Interpol, Arcade Fire, Tame Impala, Bon Iver, The xx, Sufjan Stevens, and Grizzly Bear. Academic analysis appeared in journals tied to Oxford University Press and conference papers presented at institutions like Columbia University and MIT. The record's blend of orchestration and electronic production informed scoring approaches in contemporary film and television by composers affiliated with BBC and independent studios, shaping festival programming at Glastonbury Festival and curatorial decisions at museums like Tate Modern.
Category:Radiohead albums