Radio 3 gives Thom Yorke's “Don't Fear the Light” its first broadcast

BBC Radio 3's Unclassified gave Thom Yorke's “Don't Fear the Light” its first broadcast on Sunday 28 April, with his new song “Gawpers” in the same programme. Both were recorded on 7 April at the Philharmonie de Paris, where they had their first performances at Minimalist Dream House, the concert series curated by the pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque.

“Gawpers” is nearer a song, and Yorke sings it. It was new in Paris, and Radio 3 says he has played it a few times since on the week's other Dream House dates. Elizabeth Alker, who presents Unclassified, closed the programme with “Suspirium” from his Suspiria score, in his own performance from the same concert.

“Don't Fear the Light” is in three parts, for two pianos, modular synthesiser and electronics, and the Labeque sisters play it. They had been asking Yorke for a piece for years, and he sent the station a note on why he finally said yes. Usually I would laugh and explain that I couldn't read music, but in truth I was intrigued by the idea.¹ Writing a score turned out to be not so far from working with a sequencer and modular gear. He says 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.¹