It was two years ago that we first reported on Thom Yorke’s supergroup, Atoms For Peace, a live band of ragtag superstars the Radiohead frontman pulled together to help tour his 2006 solo album The Eraser for a headline slot at Coachella 2010 and a number of exclusive American clubs.
With a lineup featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, former REM touring drummer Joey Waronker, percussionist Mauro Refosco from Forro in the Dark and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Atoms For Peace seemed to be a temporary unit despite some chatter from Yorke and Flea that they’d been working on a full-length release.
Three years after their birth, we finally have something can wrap our ears around. The debut sound of Yorke and Flea in collaboartion, well… sort of.
Atoms For Peace’s first official release is suitably obtuse, releasing this August as a 12” single, released by (previous Yorke collaborators) Modeselektor’s 50 Weapons record label imprint. The A-side will feature Atoms For Peace remixing ‘Tamer Animals’ a track by Other Lives, which Spin reports is a five-piece act from Stillwater, Oklahoma that have toured with Bon Iver.
While the B-side is to feature a remix from Atoms For Peace’s own tune, ‘Other Side’ (and no, it’s not a cover of Flea’s band’s hit). That’s right, ‘Other Side (Stuck Together Remix) is a reworking of a track that hasn’t even been released yet. Confused? Well if you’ve been keeping track of Yorke’s electronic music dabbling and listening habits, it might not come as such a surprise, but still it’s a pretty obscure move, even for the most recognisable member of Radiohead.
Yorke has made a healthy hobby of teaming up with electronic acts, having worked with Four Tet and Burial for their limited vinyl release Ego/Mirror last year, as well as the previously mentioned Modeselektor collab, 2011’s Monkeytown. NME have also confirmed that Yorke will be following his guest spot on Cosmogramma, the 2010 album from maverick DJ Steve Ellis aka Flying Lotus, with another guest appearance on the upcoming Flying Lotus album, Until The Quiet Comes (did you catch all that?).
As for the Atoms For Peace remixes, they’re heavy on claustrophobic, fragmented beats and light on Flea’s popping bass presence, with the two-track single to be released digitally and on limited edition vinyl on August 3rd.
Have a listen to the Atoms For Peace remix of Other Lives’ ‘Tamer Animals’ below:
