Thom Yorke to record with DJ Shadow in San Francisco

Thom Yorke is to record with DJ Shadow when Radiohead reach San Francisco at the end of July, NME reports. The band play the Warfield there on 27 July. The session is for the album Shadow is making with James Lavelle, who runs the Mo' Wax label, as UNKLE. It is due next year, and Richard Ashcroft of The Verve is on it too.

Colin Greenwood has named Shadow one of the main inspirations for “Paranoid Android” on OK Computer, for the way he splices pieces of music together and leaves the rough edges in.

One of the ideas behind 'Paranoid Android' was trying to do a combination of DJ Shadow and The Beatles

Colin Greenwood¹

Radiohead have also asked Shadow to remix “Subterranean Homesick Alien”. Massive Attack were offered the whole album, but Yorke says Radiohead don't want it remixed until Massive Attack have finished their own record. He had also been due to write lyrics for a new Massive Attack song, “Wire”, until there was no time for it.

Yorke has told Vox there is no plan for San Francisco. Shadow will set up his decks, mixer and sampler in a big, cinematic studio, Yorke will stand at a single microphone in the middle of the empty room, and Lavelle will join in.

We're going to sit around and confuse each other.

Thom Yorke¹