Dissect S11E2 - 15 Step by Radiohead
Oct 3, 2023
This podcast explores Radiohead's '15 Step' from their album 'In Rainbows', discussing its unique time signature, use of electronic drum machines, and Johnny Greenwood's innovative percussion sounds. It also examines the paradox of free will and inaction in the song, and analyzes the instruments and lyrics that contribute to its unique soundscape.
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Rhythm As Foundational Experiment
- Radiohead built 15 Step from a "mad rhythm experiment" combining a Roland TR-909 handclap with original Max MSP percussion.
- The hybrid sound foregrounds rhythm as the song's organizing force and sets the album's tone.
Asymmetry Creates Musical Tension
- The song uses an asymmetrical 5/4 time signature with alternating handclap patterns that shift pulse and feel.
- That interplay creates tension by making the beat sometimes drive forward and sometimes pull back.
Live One-Take Solution
- Radiohead initially worried the rhythm was impossible to perform live until Peaches' "Fuck the Pain Away" inspired them to simplify and record live.
- They then recorded 15 Step live in the studio in a single take with no overdubs.