AMOK

Self-indulgent solos, preposterous concepts: in our experience, super-groups generally turn out to be decidedly less than the sum of their parts. Atoms For Peace are a rare exception. Formed in LA back in 2009, their all-star line-up includes Thom Yorke, Flea, Beck-drummer Joey Waronker and Radiohead’s right-hand man Nigel Godrich. You certainly get the feeling the former’s calling the shots on AMOK; serial slap-bass botherer Flea has been kept in check, and sonically, the twitching electronics on show wouldn’t have seemed totally incongruous on Yorke’s first solo effort. There is, however, a warmth here – and a pervading groove – that was perhaps lacking on The Eraser, thanks in part to a more even distribution of analog sounds. Highly recommended.