Two new songs from Thom Yorke are now available for listening, courtesy of BBC Radio 3’s “Unclassified.” The two live recordings, “Gawpers” and “Don’t Fear the Light,” played for the first time on the radio during the Sunday, April 29 episode of the Elizabeth Alker-hosted program.
Listen to the April 29 episode of “Unclassified,” which also features Yorke performing “Suspirium,” as well as works from French composer David Chalmin and The National’s Bryce Dessner, in its entirety here.
“Don’t Fear the Light,” which can be heard at the 27:30 mark, is a three-part work for two pianos, electronics and modular synth. The classical composition originally premiered earlier this month at the Minimalist Dream House concert by pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque at Philharmonie de Paris.
Additionally, “Gawpers” — Yorke’s brand new solo track, which was also performed live during the Minimalist Dream House show — made it’s radio debut on Sunday’s episode. The song, which features the Labèque sisters on keys and Yorke on vocals, appears at the 47:15 mark.
“Katia and Marielle suggested for a few years that I write some music for them. Usually I would laugh and explain that I couldn’t read music, but in truth I was intrigued by the idea,” Yorke told BBC. “I realized [that] writing for score or on a sequencer and modular gear are really not so far apart. But the best part for me was watching the basics of what I’d written being brought to life by the sisters and their interpretation, making the notes theirs.”
Yorke struck fear in listeners with his creepy Suspiria soundtrack back in October of 2018. More recently, he and his Radiohead bandmates were among the handful of artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.