“The Spirit” - Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke

I try to keep an open mind when previewing any new album or track— especially by artists who have been around a long time and of whom I already have preconceived notions about their output based on their recorded history. I’m glad I’m able to do that, otherwise, I would not have even hit play on “The Spirit,” a Mark Pritchard/ Thom Yorke collaboration.

Its arpeggiators bop their 16th notes, and the smooth pads pulse along with them, yet with longer attacks. Yorke’s vocals fill out the mid-range with tenderness. The vocal arrangement reminds me of Sufjan Stevens’ mastery in that arena, and as the track builds into a more complex structure, it only gets more beautiful and more heartrending.