Captain Pikant and the Radiohead Rhythm Rumble

Captain Pikant dives deep into the rhythmic construction of Kid A’s title track. It’s all about layering here, with a glitchy electronic drum base and Phil Selway’s freestyle acoustic drumming over the top. The synthesis of these elements creates a sound that is at once mesmerizing and intricate. Pikant breaks down the creation of this unique rhythm, highlighting the distinct parts that make up the beat: a short kick, a deeper kick with decay, and a shaker. By using an external sequencer, Pikant provides clarity on how these pieces fit together, forming a metronomic backbone. He introduces a swing to the shorter kick, adding dynamics to avoid monotony, and instructs on how accents and velocity can transform a simple pattern into something alive with complexity. As with any good recipe, it’s the blend of these elements that brings the track’s texture to life, encouraging viewers to experiment with their own sound palettes.

The journey continues with ‘Idioteque,’ a track rooted deep in the traditions of early electronic music. Captain Pikant highlights Johnny Greenwood’s groundbreaking approach of creating drum sounds from scratch using a modular synthesizer. This process mirrors that of synthesizer pioneers who meticulously patch systems together, akin to the early development stages of iconic machines like the Roland 808. Pikant explains how Greenwood generated 50 minutes of improvised modular rhythms, from which Thom Yorke selected a 40-second segment that would become the backbone of the song. Utilizing the Elektron Syntakt, Pikant replicates this modular mayhem, crafting sounds with a resonant filter and highlighting the nuanced dance of noise through various filters to achieve distinct percussive textures. It’s a nod to the spontaneous, organic crafting of electronic soundscapes that have left audiences in awe for decades.

Diving into Radiohead’s 2016 album, A Moon Shaped Pool, Captain Pikant shifts focus to the song ‘Burn the Witch.’ Here, the intersection of cinematic strings and electronic beats takes center stage. Pikant painstakingly re-creates the opening crescendo of cymbals using the Elektron Syntakt, paying homage to Thom Yorke’s fondness for electronic exploration. He references the Analog Rytm, suggesting Yorke’s potential use of it in shaping the album’s soundscape. The track’s percussion is characterized by its understated complexity: a straightforward kick and snare interplay that becomes embellished by varying cymbal dynamics. By highlighting the intricate layers of rhythm, Pikant reveals how Radiohead masterfully blends orchestral elements with electronic beats to create an environment that is both haunting and hypnotic. As viewers, we’re treated to a tutorial on achieving these textures, inspiring musicians to explore further in their rhythm adventures.