LA Times' Calendar Live have a story on Thom Yorke's new album The Eraser, talking with Kris Chen, senior vice president of artists & repertoire for XL Recordings: "It really did take everybody by surprise."
Radiohead's management brokered a deal in late January/early February with the indie label, home to acts including Devendra Banhart, the White Stripes and Dizzee Rascal. "Everybody involved was able to keep it under wraps for a while," says Chen.
Since the announcement, some fans have grown dismayed at the idea of pop's most inscrutable poet of ennui releasing what some fear might be an indulgent electronica album. Chen, however, is at pains to banish the notion.
"Contrary to what some people are posting on bulletin boards, it's not 'Thom's techno record,' " he says. "It is well-composed, beautifully thought-out and song-based. Thom's voice and lyrics are unmistakable. That said, it's not as if you're going to hear the more guitar-based angle of, say, 'The Bends.' "
One of Yorke's new songs, "Black Swan," will play over the closing credits in Richard Linklater's animated sci-fi film, "A Scanner Darkly," which hits theaters in July.
Until then, Yorke completists can stay current via the album's interactive ” and spookily atmospheric” website, theeraser.net.
"That's crucial in keeping up the dialogue with Thom's fans — there's an invitation to keep coming back," Chen says. "Since the site launched last week, it's gone through changes every day. We're trying to get music across to people outside the tried-and-true norm."
