Radiohead have released a new single called “Burn the Witch”. Though lush and orchestral in arrangement, the song seems to harbor more sinister undertones. “This is a low-flying panic attack,” frontman Thom Yorke can be heard cautioning in his signature otherworldly croon.
The track is accompanied by a claymation video directed by Chris Hopewell, which, much like the music, plays with perception and illusion. In the eerie clip, a man is given a tour of what appears to be a picture-perfect town, a “Model Village.” But it’s not long before he sees the place for what it really is. Here, men strap women to trees as part of strange, and possibly violent, rituals; a colorful bed of flowers is cultivated to decorate gallows; and locals harvest fruit in large quantities in order to satiate their alcoholic tendencies. It all culminates in an ending that pays homage to 1973’s The Wicker Man.
Update: According to Hopewell, the video was “conceived, designed, built and animated in 14 days, we finished last Thursday.”
Presumably, “Burn the Witch” serves as the first preview of Radiohead’s long-awaited ninth studio album. The song will be available on all digital platforms beginning tomorrow, May 4th. Find the single’s artwork below.
Check out behind the scenes photos from the video’s shoot:
Radiohead will kick off a world tour later this month:
Radiohead 2016 Tour Dates:
05/20 – Amsterdam, NL @ Heineken Music Hall
05/21 – Amsterdam, NL @ Heineken Music Hall
05/23 – Paris, FR @ Zenith
05/24 – Paris, FR @ Zenith
05/26 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
05/27 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
05/28 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
06/01 – Lyon, FR @ Nuits de Fourvière
06/03 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/17 – Reyjavik, IC @ Secret Solstice
07/02 – St. Gallen, CH @ OpenAir St. Gallen
07/08 – Lisbon, PT @ NOS Alive Festival
07/26 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
07/27 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
07/29 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
07/30-31 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music Festival
08/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Auditorium
08/06 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Music Festival
08/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Auditorium
08/20-21 – Tokyo, JP @ Summer Sonic
08/20-21 – Osaka, JP @ Summer Sonic
09/11 – Berlin, DE @ Lollapalooza Berlin
10/03 – Mexico City, MX @ Palacio de los Deportes
10/04 – Mexico City, MX @ Palacio de los Deportes
