Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood has released an unheard Radiohead song called “Spooks,” on the soundtrack for Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film Inherent Vice.
Consequence of Sound has reported that an unreleased Radiohead song, “Spooks,” has been released on the soundtrack for Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film Inherent Vice. The film’s soundtrack was made by Johnny Greenwood and “Spooks” was performed by Johnny Greenwood, Joanna Newsome, and former Supergrass members Gaz Coombes and Dany Goffey.
Inherent Vice is the third film Johnny Greenwood has scored for Anderson, including 2007’s There Will Be Blood and 2012’s The Master. For his work on There Will Be Blood, Greenwood won a Critics’ Choice Award and Best Film Score at Evening Standard British Film Awards. The score was ineligible for an Academy Award because of its use of already existing music.
After working on There Will Be Blood, Greenwood went on to score Norwegian Wood, We Need To Talk About Kevin, and Anderson’s The Master. Anderson spoke about his collaboration with Greenwood with Entertainment Weekly saying, ”Jonny was really one of the first people to see the film. And when he came back with a bunch of music, it actually helped show me what his impression of the film was. Which was terrific, because I had no impression.”
“Spooks” was originally debuted at a 2006 Radiohead show in Copenhagan, and the new soundtrack version is much softer and slower, but no less creepy. Singer Joanna Newsome also appears on this track, and is featured in the film Inherent Vice, where she plays an “earth-goddess like figure,” according to Pitchfork.
Based on a novel by Thomas Pynchon, the film, by celebrated director Paul Thomas Anderson, follows a troubled detective, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who attempts to solve a conspiracy in 1970s Southern California. The film also stars Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, Martin Short, and Jena Malone.
“Spooks” was originally written by Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Philip Selway, and Thom Yorke, making it the most recent Radiohead song since The King of Limbs: Live From The Basement.
Although Radiohead is currently on haitus, Greenwood is keeping busy with film scores and Thom Yorke recently released a solo album, Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes. In July, Johnny Greenwood told NME that Radiohead would start playing and recording again in September. Radiohead recently announced that they’re working on a new album.
Inherent Vice will be in theatres on Friday, the 12th, and the soundtrack will be released December 15th on Nonesuch Records.