RADIOHEAD — Hail To The Thief LP 2x12"

Radiohead – Hail To The Thief LP The double-12inch set arrives on XL Recordings under catalogue XLLP785, presenting a sprawling 2023 statement that stitches experimental pop beats with the band’s trademark rock and alternative sensibilities. The release captures a moment when the group revisits the angularity of their early 2000s output while extending it into new rhythmic territories. Within XL Recordings’ recent trajectory, Hail To The Thief sits ahead of a series of 2025-2026 projects such as The Chemical Brothers’ “Exit Planet Dust 2x12” (XDUSTLP1, 2025) and a cluster of releases slated for 2026—including DJ Python’s “to accomplish many things” (XL1667T) and Blawan’s “GI MI KEYS BACK / AUTO FAKE” (XL1697T). This positions the Radiohead LP as a bridge between the label’s earlier alternative catalogues and its forthcoming dance-floor-oriented offerings. Side A opens with “2 + 2 = 5”, a title that hints at a tight, mathematically driven groove, setting a precise rhythmic foundation that segues into “Sit Down Stand Up”. The second track flips the phrase, offering a mirrored energy that maintains the record’s kinetic pulse. “Sail To The Moon” follows, its title evoking a more expansive, perhaps atmospheric stretch that broadens the record’s dynamic range before the side closes. Side B begins with “Backdrifts”, a track that, by its name, suggests a pull back into deeper textures, while “Go To Sleep” provides a contrasting lull, easing the momentum into a more introspective space. “Where I End & You Begin” concludes the side, its relational title implying a dialogue between tension and release that prepares the listener for the next disc. The third side continues the narrative with “We Suck Young Blood”, a provocative title that likely drives a darker, more urgent rhythm, leading into “The Gloaming”, a term for twilight that suggests a dimming, perhaps more subdued ambience. “There There” follows, its repetition hinting at a hypnotic loop, before “I Will” offers a resolute, possibly anthemic closure to the side. Side D opens with “A Punchup At A Wedding”, a title that conjures a sudden burst of kinetic energy, setting up a lively transition into “Myxomatosis”, a track whose name evokes a spreading intensity. “Scatterbrain” then introduces a fragmented, perhaps disorienting feel, while the record ends with “A Wolf At The Door”, a closing that implies looming tension and an unresolved edge. In the context of Radiohead’s XL Recordings output, Hail To The Thief follows the 2017 “Ok Computer” 2×12″ (XLLP781) and precedes later releases such as the 2025 “Ok Computer Oknotok 1997-2017 LP” (XLLP868) and the forthcoming “KID AMNESIA LP” (XL1166LP, 2025). The LP therefore occupies a pivotal spot, bridging the band’s classic era with their current experimental direction. For DJs, the record offers a wealth of entry points. The tight, beat-centric openings on sides A and B lend themselves to mixing into techno-leaning sets, while the more atmospheric cuts on side C provide texture for deeper, progressive moments. The closing side’s kinetic tracks can serve as peak-time fuel or as dramatic exits, especially the final “A Wolf At The Door” with its lingering tension. The release is pressed as a 2×12inch vinyl, matching the format of many of XL’s recent heavyweight projects. Its physical presence reinforces the album’s expansive scope, inviting both collectors and turntablists to explore the full breadth of its sequencing. Radiohead – Hail To The Thief LP, XL Recordings, catalogue XLLP785, 2×12inch Vinyl, 14 tracks, experimental/pop/rock/alternative beats, released 30 January 2023. Tracklist: A1. Radiohead – 2 + 2 = 5 A2. Radiohead – Sit Down Stand Up A3. Radiohead – Sail To The Moon B1. Radiohead – Backdrifts B2. Radiohead – Go To Sleep B3. Radiohead – Where I End & You Begin C1. Radiohead – We Suck Young Blood C2. Radiohead – The Gloaming C3. Radiohead – There There C4. Radiohead – I Will D1. Radiohead – A Punchup At A Wedding D2. Radiohead – Myxomatosis D3. Radiohead – Scatterbrain D4. Radiohead – A Wolf At The Door