Radiohead's Thom Yorke writes new songs for Tibet documentary

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

The Guardian
By Sean Michaels
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Radiohead's Thom Yorke ... vocal supporter of the Tibetan cause. Photograph: Mark Allan

The Radiohead frontman has written three new tracks for a forthcoming film about Tibet, alongside new material by songwriter Damien Rice and composer Philip Glass

Radiohead's Thom Yorke has written three new songs for a forthcoming documentary about Tibet, according to the film's director. Yorke's tunes will appear alongside new material by songwriter Damien Rice and celebrated composer Philip Glass.

When the Dragon Swallowed the Sun, directed by Dirk Simon, explores Tibet's political struggle with China, and the factors that have brought the Tibetan Freedom movement to a relative standstill. "Seven years in the making," according to the film's website, the footage includes interviews with Tibetan exiles, Chinese artists and the Dalai Lama, as well as actor Richard Gere and South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Glass has composed the main theme of the documentary, Simon told Twentyfourbit this week, as well as a suite for the film's "grand finale". The soundtrack will also reportedly feature previously released music by Björk, Eric Clapton, UNKLE, DJ Spooky and Massive Attack's Rob Del Naja.

Though none of the contributors have yet confirmed their participation in the film, a commercial release for the soundtrack is "being negotiated as we speak", according to Simon. Radiohead have been vocal supporters of the Tibetan cause, calling on prime minister Gordon Brown to become more involved in the conflict.

In other Radiohead news, Peter Gabriel has officially confirmed the tracklist of a reported covers album. The former Genesis frontman has recorded an orchestral version of Street Spirit (Fade Out), and Radiohead will return the favour by covering Gabriel on a later follow-up.