Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke: Tall Tales 

Before listening to this album, I had not heard of or listened to Mark Pritchard’s music. Thom Yorke, of Radiohead fame, drew me to this album. It turns out that Pritchard and Yorke have some musical history, and during COVID, they began collaborating virtually. Tall Tales is the result of the collaboration.

According to Wikipedia, Mark Pritchard is an English electronic musician who “has produced a large discography with a constant change of styles and genres, in both solo work under various aliases and collaborations.”

Per Pritchard’s label, Warp, Tall Tales is: “Landscapes of synth-pop, prog, dub, 70s synth, Joe Meek, Ivor Cutler, Library, kraut and classic Warp™️ – Tall Tales sounds like both musicians meeting in the Hinterland.”

To me, Tall Tales sounds like a true collaboration, and the results are the most accessible of Yorke’s solo work. Some of the songs would not sound out of place on Radiohead’s electronica-influenced material.

Pritchard’s beats are musical, not just sound effects (which is what a lot of electronica sounds like to me). Despite the electronica genre, the songs have an organic and warm feel. Perhaps it is the vintage synths, or perhaps I should give credit to the musical genius of Pritchard and Yorke. The music would not sound out of place in a disco in the late 1970s or a Billie Eilish lick—retro and contemporary at the same time.

Yorke’s vocals are his typical ethereal sound, but there is diversity from track to track, so it never gets boring. On “Back in the Game” (the first single), Yorke is as accessible as he is today. It is one of his most conventionally soulful vocals on record, even though Pritchard digitally warped and distorted them using an H910 Harmonizer (a vintage pitch controller). The vocal modifications are fantastic. On “Gangsters,” Yorke’s voice box vocals sound female.

Lyrically, the songs are bleak and ominous. For example, on “Ice Shelf:”

“Your sense of duty
Is misplaced
It calls you love
But it lie”

Another example is “Back in the Game,” where the lyrics juxtapose the infectious groovy beats with a story of a relapse after a period of sobriety.

I came to this album curious but skeptical. The initial listen hooked me, and each subsequent listen drew me in even further. I enjoy this album as much as Yorke’s current band, The Smile. If you are a fan of Radiohead, especially Kid A and beyond, you will likely enjoy this album.

This album sounds amazing sonically. The 24-bit/96 kHz FLAC version on streaming services is perfection. Tall Tales is meant to be enjoyed digitally.