Jonny Greenwood, Gaz Coombes, & Danny Goffey – “Spooks” (Feat. Joanna Newsom) (Stereogum Premiere)
When Radiohead debuted “Spooks” back in 2006, it was a rollicking guitar-powered instrumental the likes of which the band hadn’t tackled since “Electioneering.” (Actually, the closest corollary in the band’s discography is probably the Bends-era B-side “The Trickster.”) Now Jonny Greenwood plus former Supergrass members Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey have reworked the song for Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice soundtrack. This new version is a more understated, less frantic piece of work that reminds me a lot of noted Radiohead influence Can trying their hand at spy music. It’s topped off with spoken-word bits by Joanna Newsom, who also narrates the film. The song was written by Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Philip Selway, and Thom Yorke, so this is technically the first new Radiohead song released since The King of Limbs: Live From The Basement three years ago. Hear it below.
The Inherent Vice soundtrack is out 12/15 via Nonesuch, and the movie hits theaters this Friday, 12/12.