Philip Selway
‘Familial’
(Bella Union)

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood have both made musical advances in the difficult world of not-being-in-Radiohead, but many will be surprised to learn that the latest ‘Header to join them is their drummer, Philip Selway. Many will be further surprised that ‘Familial’ is not a glitchy, experimental leap into the unknown, but a rather sweet collection of acoustic numbers. Much of it has been stowed awaysince before Radiohead evenexisted, so understandably patches are forlornly sixth form, no more than the simplistic plod of ‘By SomeMiracle’. To polarise, the intimate ‘Don’t Look Down’, grapples quite ably with real atmosphere and emotion, proving that ‘Familial’ is far from a simple indulgence. In fact, it’s much better than it probably should be.

Daniel Ross