When Music Crosses Paths: Radiohead and The Pretty Things Share a Secret
In the vast, often overlooked landscape of music history, some connections are so subtle they slip past the widest public gaze. Recently, a seemingly unrelated fact emerged from an interview that highlighted an astonishing parallel between two legendary bands: Radiohead and The Pretty Things.
The discovery came to light when Ed O’Brien, the guitarist for Radiohead, was recently featured on the podcast Broken Record. During a conversation with host Justin Richmond, the discussion turned toward their musical lineage, leading to an unexpected sonic link involving a track from The Pretty Things’ 1970 album, Parachute.
When pressed by Richmond about whether O’Brien had ever explored The Pretty Things’ work, the guitarist was presented with a snippet of “In the Square.” Initially, he expressed no familiarity with the album, but as the sound unfolded, something struck him.
Richmond played an instrumental passage of “In the Square,” and O’Brien’s eyes widened. He noticed a distinct similarity between the spooky arpeggios of the 1970 track and cuts from Radiohead’s later work, particularly the atmosphere found on OK Computer.
The resemblance wasn’t just about mood; it was rooted in the fundamental structure of the harmony. O’Brien pointed out that the similarity extended to the tonal shifts, noting how both pieces utilized a similar minor key progression—specifically referencing G minor, F over G minor, and E major, which contrasted with an E minor foundation.
This moment turned a casual podcast exchange into a fascinating musical footnote. It suggests that hidden layers of harmonic language often bridge seemingly separate artistic eras, revealing deep, shared truths in the architecture of popular music.
Credit: Exclaim!
