radiohead - idioteque (live)

i've been revisiting radiohead lately. in my experience, there are few in this world who somehow manage to hover just beneath the horizon of "sanity" (above/below.... hard to tell) without completely nose-diving.

thom yorke physically manifests a tenuous balance in this regard as he dives under, above, and around the subjective line of psychosis while performing his music on stage.

its the balance that strikes me..... compels me to listen, to observe, to disappear along with him into their music. radiohead speak in so many ways that go beyond lyrics (as one would expect to be the case for a band who composed a good portion of their lyrics while recording Kid A by pulling random phrases from a hat).

idioteque is a perfect example. this is a piece of musical genius. and the passion with which thom performs for this song has become widely adored about across the globe.

idioteque often brings me to tears. its a purportedly apocalyptic amalgam, that in terms of the composition itself, reflects the tension created by the concrete horrors encountered in this life juxtaposed with the ways in which we try to make sense of it all through abstraction.

its angry. its sad. its confused. its melancholic. and at the core an expression, an indignant account, a cry, a scream.

all very human.... but some feel it deeper than others. and it is souls like yorke's that for whatever reason, i seem to connect with intimately, and musically is no exception......


radiohead is at the top of my list of bands that i have not seen, but will make sure i do so when they come close to town again. i can't help but think of what i will have missed out on if i were to fail to take advantage of seeing this band live at least once while they are still touring together.

it seems a little too giddy to say "i look forward to it"....... but that's in the ballpark of how i feel all the while knowing its likely going to be a concert bringing out a full range of emotions for me......