Kid A
Released on 2 October 2000, Kid A shattered rock conventions by fusing electronic textures with orchestral chaos.
Kid A is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 2 October 2000 by Parlophone. Recorded with producer Nigel Godrich across Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire, it marked a radical departure from their earlier sound. The group incorporated influences from electronic music, krautrock, jazz, and 20th-century classical music, utilizing a wider range of instruments and effects. Singer Thom Yorke wrote abstract lyrics by cutting up phrases and assembling them at random. In a break from industry norms, the band released no commercial singles, though promotional singles and limited territorial releases occurred; they conducted few interviews or photoshoots, and instead used short animations and the internet for promotion.
- First Appears
- 2 October 2000
- Producer
- Nigel Godrich
- Recording Locations
- Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire
Lore & Background
Following the burnout after OK Computer, Thom Yorke described himself as a "complete fucking mess" and felt hostile toward the music media. He became disillusioned with rock mythology, stating he no longer wanted to be answerable to what they had done before. His writer's block led him to abandon guitar melodies, which he called "pure embarrassment," in favor of rhythm and electronic structures from artists like Aphex Twin on the Warp label. Yorke wanted his voice used as an instrument rather than a leading role. The band struggled with this new direction; guitarist Ed O'Brien feared there would be no guitars or drums, while bassist Colin Greenwood found the influences "really cold." They even considered disbanding until a live webcast in November 1999 and the early positive response to the album's direction convinced them they were onto something great.
In Their Own Story
The recording sessions began in January 1999 at Guillaume Tell Studios in Paris, moving to unproductive two-weeks in Copenhagen before settling at Batsford Park in Gloucestershire. With no deadline and 50 reels of tape containing nothing finished, tension rose until the band agreed they would split if they couldn't agree on an album worth releasing. In January 2000, Godrich suggested splitting into two groups: one generating sounds without acoustic instruments, the other developing them. By April, over 20 songs were recorded. Fearing a double album was too dense and EPs a "copout," they saved half the material for Amnesiac. The final tracklist caused arguments so severe O'Brien said it could break the band, but it was resolved by the next day. The result included brass sections inspired by Charles Mingus to sound like a "traffic jam" and strings recorded at Dorchester Abbey.
Reader's Guide
To understand Kid A's creation, one must look at the specific turning points in the studio. Yorke bought a house in Cornwall, walked cliffs, and learned the grand piano, writing "Everything in Its Right Place" first. He admitted he didn't know how electronic instruments worked or what "ADSR" meant, treating everything as a novelty. Ed O'Brien used sustain units to create infinite notes combined with looping, mimicking synthesizers. In Gloucestershire, Yorke and Godrich transferred a song to a Prophet-5 synthesiser, processing vocals in Pro Tools with a scrubbing tool. This track became the album opener, convincing O'Brien that not every song needed every member. The band moved to their new Oxfordshire studio by September 2000, mastering the record at Abbey Road Studios by Chris Blair.
Did You Know?
- Thom Yorke wrote abstract lyrics by cutting up phrases and assembling them at random.
- The band recorded a brass section for 'The National Anthem' instructed to sound like a 'traffic jam'.
- Kid A was the first Radiohead album to debut at number one on the US Billboard 200.
- In 2000, Radiohead toured Europe in a custom-built tent without corporate sponsors.
- The strings for 'How to Disappear Completely' were recorded at Dorchester Abbey, a 12th-century church.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kid A?
Kid A is not a character but the title of Radiohead's fourth studio album, released on October 2, 2000. It represents a radical shift in the band's sound, moving away from their earlier rock style toward electronic and experimental textures.
What are Kid A's powers or role?
As an album, Kid A's 'power' lies in its ability to blend influences like krautrock, jazz, and classical music into a cohesive yet chaotic sonic landscape. It redefined the band's artistic identity by prioritizing atmosphere over traditional song structures.
How does Kid A's story end?
The album concludes with the track 'Treefingers,' an instrumental piece featuring Thom Yorke on piano that offers a quiet, meditative resolution to the record's intense electronic experimentation. Unlike narrative fiction, it ends without a plot resolution, leaving listeners with a sense of open-ended reflection.
Why is Kid A important?
Kid A is crucial because it shattered industry norms by releasing no singles and conducting few interviews, forcing audiences to engage directly with the music. Its innovative production techniques and abstract lyrics influenced countless artists across multiple genres in the decades following its release.
Where was Kid A recorded?
The album was recorded across four distinct locations: Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. Producer Nigel Godrich worked with the band in these varied settings to capture the unique electronic and orchestral sounds that define the record.
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