Smuggle A Bomb In A Bubble

Ultraísta “Tin King”

Ultraísta is a trio featuring Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, the prolific session drummer Joey Waronker, and singer Laura Bettinson. It’s important to note this upfront because it explains a lot about the music – for one, it immediate answers the question of how this random band has a drummer who is working up to the level of style and technical sophistication you hear on this track. It also makes sense of how much this sounds like Radiohead, and in far more subtle ways than you’d usually get from an artist emulating that band. Godrich, who has effectively been a sixth member of the band from OK Computer onwards and also collaborates with Thom Yorke on his solo records, has understandably absorbed the aesthetics of that band over the years. But the interesting thing about hearing him as a musician cut off from all of them is getting the sense of how HIS aesthetics may have formed theirs as well. “Tin King” is a remarkable composition, particularly in the way Waronker’s busy percussion plays off a jumpy bass riff and a keyboard part that resembles Yorke’s Rhodes parts on “Everything In Its Right Place.” Bennington’s voice comes at a clipped rhythm, like she’s constantly chasing to keep up with Waronker, and her tone suggests a strange contrast of exasperation and serenity. Her melody isn’t far off from what Yorke might sing if he was on the track, but it’s not a problem. Any resemblance to Radiohead here is both logical and flattering: If this was in fact one of their compositions, it’d be among the better songs from this stage of their career.

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