Thom Yorke’s “Knife Edge” Is Our Song of the Week

Our weekly column Song of the Week spotlights the greatest new tunes each week. Find these new favorites and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist, and for other great songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, Thom Yorke devastates with “Knife Edge,” taken from his soundtrack for Confidenza.

Inside Thom Yorke, there are two wolves. One of these wolves is ferocious, angry, and in-your-face. This wolf wins through Yorke’s artsy, punky ragers (think “Electioneering,” “2+2=5,” or “You Will Never Work in Television Again”) and skittering electronic beats (most of his solo catalog). The other wolf is sensitive, overwhelmed with emotion, and perpetually on the verge of tears (I’d list examples, but we’d be here all day). For “Knife Edge,” Yorke lets that sensitive wolf absolutely run wild.

Taken from his soundtrack to Daniele Luchetti’s new film Confidenza, “Knife Edge” is the Radiohead frontman’s latest attempt at crafting a song so sonically devastating it should come with a warning. A delicate waltz that sounds like it’s coming out of the world’s most beautiful music box, Yorke drapes his signature falsetto over simple piano chords and swirling, reversed synth pads.

As if the sound and composition of the song weren’t moving enough, York sings from a place of pure, dejected desperation. “You better not be fooling ’round/ Or stringing me along,” he sings more hopeless than accusatory. “This to me is life or death/ And all I think about/ If I were you, I’d run away/ Get out while you still can.”

The track is the Yorke of “True Love Waits”, the Yorke of “Motion Picture Soundtrack,” the Yorke of “Dawn Chorus.” Even devoid of its cinematic context, it cuts like, well, the sharp edge of a knife. All of which is to say, might be best to keep a box of tissues nearby.

— Jonah Krueger
Editorial Coordinator