This one’s from the wayback machine. Manny Reyes of funtime PDX electronic dance band Atole (playing my crazy MFNW showcase on Sept. 6 with Paper/Upper/Cuts, Eskimo and Sons and the Chicharones, by the way) sent over an old home recording he did of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” in honor of “Radiohead Day.” The mega-group is playing in Washington right now. Those “Bring ‘Em to Portland” petitions didn’t work out.

I think this was the song that impressed me most off The Bends way back when I was a wee nerd. Good to know that other creative folks had the same launching off point.

As for Atole’s Reyes (he says this is the first recorded output from Atole—he made it in 1999), this seems totally uncharacteristic. He says that, despite the seeming Elliott Smith influence here, he had not (and—really?—still has not listened to Smith). Don’t worry, I already gave him a hard time about it.

Download audio file (fakeplastictrees.mp3)

Here’s the cut. On one hand, it’s the audio version of a naked baby photo for Reyes and you can see why he left the guitar behind. On the other hand, this came out pretty fragile and pretty and cool. Hearing his voice roll over those syllables and strain for the falsettos is pretty damn priceless. And the accordion is a nice touch.

Happy Radiohead day!

Links:
AtoleSpace
Radiohead

Bonus: The “Fake Plastic Trees” video. Oooh li’l baby Thom Yorke!