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HERE’S THE STRANGE, BRILLIANT STORY BEHIND RADIOHEAD’S ALBUM ARTWORK

The Moon Shaped Pool cover had an unusual journey to fruition.

by Alexandra Pollard @ gigwise.com

and Adam Thorpe @ the-tls.co.uk

© Wikipedia

The band spoke to author and poet Adam Thorpe - who is a friend of Colin Greenwood - for the Times Literary Supplement (a slightly left-field choice), giving insight into the critically-acclaimed new record.

-Colin Greenwood in front of La Fabrique, Provence, France, during the recording of Radiohead’s new album. Ed O’Brien is in the background.​ 

The photographer is Adam Thorpe.

Thorpe also witnessed the creation of the album artwork by Stanley Donwood. Donwood was set up in a barn near to the recording studio, with speakers wired between the two buildings so the artist could hear the process. He then reacted “in acrylic” to what he heard, “the results to be modified and manipulated on computer for the LP’s cover." 

-Details of cover print, no actual canvas photo available. @StanleyDonwood

-Colin Greenwood at Stanley’s studio in La Fabrique, Provence. © Radiohead

Thorpe goes on to describe Donwood’s setup:

“In one of the larger granges, numerous canvases display abstract explosions of colour. The barn’s speakers are wired up to the recording studios: the band’s resident artist Stanley Donwood reacts in acrylic to what he hears, the results to be modified and manipulated on computer for the LP’s cover.”

-New behind the scenes of Stanley Donwood working in the studio of La Fabrique, with the band recording in the background. 

For the "Live From a Moon Shaped Pool” promotional event, Donwood issued a pamphlet entitled “How to Make Your Own A Moon Shaped Pool Artwork in 66 Easy Steps”, inspired by his experience creating the album cover. The steps include an instruction to “let the wind and the weather move the paint around for you.” Image by:   @Radiohead_info