Can
Radiohead's post-OK Computer evolution owes a massive debt to Can's motorik rhythms and textural experimentation. The hypnotic, looping percussion on Kid A tracks like 'Everything In Its Right Place' directly channels Can's Tago Mago-era repetitive structures, while the band's embrace of studio-as-instrument philosophy mirrors Holger Czukay's tape manipulation techniques. This German krautrock foundation became essential to Radiohead's reinvention as electronic experimentalists rather than alternative rock traditionalists.
Aphex Twin
Richard D. James's Selected Ambient Works and drill'n'bass compositions provided the sonic blueprint for Radiohead's electronic period. Thom Yorke has explicitly cited how Aphex Twin's glitchy, disorienting beats on albums like Richard D. James Album influenced Kid A's fractured rhythmic approach and the band's incorporation of programmed drums. The warped, pitch-shifted vocal treatments throughout Radiohead's 2000s output directly reference James's human voice manipulations.
Miles Davis
Davis's electric period, particularly Bitches Brew's modal improvisation and spatial dynamics, fundamentally shaped Radiohead's approach to collective music-making post-OK Computer. The band adopted Davis's philosophy of recording extended jams and extracting songs from ambient explorations, evident in the creation of both Kid A and In Rainbows. This jazz methodology allowed Radiohead to break free from conventional verse-chorus structures and embrace the kind of atmospheric, tension-based compositions that define their mature work.
Context
Radiohead emerged from Oxford's indie scene in the early 1990s, initially riding the Britpop wave alongside contemporaries like Blur and Oasis. However, their trajectory diverged dramatically after OK Computer's 1997 release, as they rejected the retro-focused British rock revival in favor of forward-thinking electronic experimentation. This shift coincided with the late-90s intersection of rock and electronic music, when artists across genres were grappling with digital technology's creative possibilities. Their transformation reflected broader anxieties about technological alienation and corporate globalization that defined millennial culture.
Legacy
Radiohead's influence permeates contemporary indie rock through bands like Arcade Fire, who adopted their orchestral density and political urgency, and Bon Iver, whose falsetto-driven electronic folk directly references Yorke's vocal approach. Their pay-what-you-want release of In Rainbows fundamentally altered music industry distribution models, inspiring countless artists to experiment with alternative release strategies and direct fan engagement.
Why it matters
Understanding Radiohead's diverse influences reveals how they synthesized seemingly incompatible genres—krautrock, jazz fusion, electronic music, and alternative rock—into a coherent artistic vision. This knowledge illuminates why their music feels both familiar and alien, as they consistently subvert rock conventions using techniques borrowed from experimental traditions. Recognizing these source materials allows listeners to appreciate the sophisticated craft behind their apparent spontaneity and emotional immediacy.