- Since Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke released his debut solo record The Eraser back in 2006, all of Radiohead's subsequent records have shifted from their epic, alternative rock-for-the-clued-in stylings toward music of an ever increasing electronic and insular nature. If nothing else it cements the idea that Yorke was calling the majority of the shots.

For some people, Radiohead's more recent dabbling in these waters have been seen as heresy, a band maybe too willing to shift and morph their sound, or perhaps a once savvy fan-base too weary of evolution, an almost too heavy realisation that they themselves have hit a wall. For me Yorke's solo debut and those two most recent Radiohead records have been a breath of fresh air, a truly natural progression from a dude that seems just itchy to be on the move forward.

Despite Yorke's latest project bearing a new name and expanded line-up, Atoms For Peace is really more of a slight re-imagining and continuation of his own solo work, the group itself even sharing its name with the most downbeat track on Yorke's The Eraser and originally forming as a means for Yorke to perform his dense debut in a live environment.

Though not a huge departure from The Eraser, Amok finds itself to be a much more organic beast, Yorke's electronic inclinations and slightly depressing croon fleshed out by the likes of long-time Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, the dude that drummed on nearly of all Beck's good records and Flea, who happened to appear briefly in the motion picture The Big Lebowski.

Without being world changing or even all that noticeable at first, Yorke's, kind-of, super-friends do impact here, playing subtle, secretive roles, operating behind the scenes to give Yorke's creations that little kick that help the nine songs on offer here come alive, to give them a heartbeat against Yorke's consistent cold.

This is not stadium filling, but immersive music to lose yourself in. Music that takes a little while to get under your skin and that, unfortunately, may get overlooked or shunned by those with too many, or the wrong expectations; that would be a real shame. Amok is an unassuming beast that keeps on giving all the way to the very end, culminating with an epic finale that reaffirms everything that came before it.

- Jay Edwards.