Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich and Dhani Harrison have officially joined forces as Dragonflies. The pair’s debut self-titled album is due out September 18th via Dark Horse Records/BMG. While the pair are long-time friends, they first “collaborated” for a COVID-era conversation that would eventually lead to Harrison’s 2023 solo album Innerstanding. Godrich and Harrison actually joined forces at the latter’s Brixton studio (with a percussion-based assist from Godrich’s Ultraísta and Atoms for Peace bandmate Joey Waronker) to “build songs from tape loops while working quickly and instinctively,” according to a press release. Godrich likened the process to “one person throwing something in the air and the other person catching it.”
Collaboration and Influences
From a logistical standpoint, the project saw Harrison “step into the role of singer and guitarist,” while Godrich (who is releasing his own new music for the first time in six years) “shaped the material in real-time.” Further informed and perhaps guided by influences like Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, Japan’s David Sylvian, and Ryuichi Sakamoto, the resulting album is a “kind of earthbound space rock: transportive and far reaching, without leaning on psychedelic cliché.”
Debut Single and Music Video
Added the press release, “Dragonflies arrived at a moment of change and stillness for both musicians. After two decades based primarily in Los Angeles while fronting thenewno2 and scoring film and television, Harrison had recently returned to his native England. Godrich, meanwhile, had pulled back from touring and recording altogether. Out of that quiet, the two found room to chase new sounds in tandem.”
Our first taste of Dragonflies comes with “Slower.” The song seems to typify the core of the record, where “Harrison’s performances sit atop layered, hand-played grooves that hover between organic and electronic, at times echoing trip-hop.” The accompanying music video features some wonderfully trippy animation from RUFFMERCY (behind similar videos for Radiohead, Beck, and IDLES).
Pre-orders and Release
Pre-orders for Dragonflies are available here.
Dragonflies Artwork:
In conclusion, the debut album from Dragonflies, the collaborative project between Nigel Godrich and Dhani Harrison, promises to be an exciting and innovative release. With its unique blend of earthbound space rock and trip-hop influences, Dragonflies is sure to captivate listeners. The album’s release on September 18th via Dark Horse Records/BMG is highly anticipated, and fans can pre-order the album now. With the release of the debut single “Slower” and its accompanying music video, Dragonflies is set to make a lasting impression on the music scene.
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