Radio head: is Thom Yorke’s Sonos speaker show an Apple Beats 1 killer?
Sonos speakers get the Radiohead treatment
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If you have aSonosspeaker system at home – or even a standalonesmart speakerlike theSonos One– you may be familiar withSonos Radio, which combines a mixture of radio stations around the world as well as music curated by the audio company itself.
For a limited time, Sonos Radio users will be able to exclusively tune into a series of hour-long radio mixes by none other than Radiohead frontman, Thom Yorke.
The first of these mixes is available to listen to until May 27, which according toHYPEBEASTfeatures the singer-songwriter’s influences and favorites, “including music by Duke Ellington, Holly Herndon, James Blake, Little Simz and Thee Oh Sees”.
To find it, open up the Sonos app, and head to Browse. From there, select Sonos Radio, and click on the Sonos Sound System show, underneath the Sonos Presents banner – the first hour of this show is formed from Yorke’s mix.
The mix itself is squarely aimed at the alternative music crowd (which is entirely to be expected from the Radiohead frontman), with long electronic drones, a capella vocal harmony, contemplative soliloquies, and the sound of digital decay – perfect listening fodder to put your Sonosspeaker systemthrough its paces.
A different kind of radio show
Will it prove a rival for other tech company-curated stations likeAppleBeats 1? We don’t think so – you won’t find a bubbly mix of pop, indie, and hip-hop in Thom Yorke’s radio mix, or the effervescent patter of Zane Lowe.
Instead, this carefully-curated radio mix is something altogether more reflective – and it’s actually ideal for sticking on in the background while you’re working. Or, you can take a cue from us – shut your eyes, lay back, and let the sounds take you away…
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In any case, we’d definitely recommend checking out Sonos Radio if you have aSonos Move,Sonos Beam, or any other speaker in the family. It makes a refreshing change fromSpotify, and you might just discover something that doesn’t sound like anything you’ve ever heard before.
Looking to buy a new speaker? Check out the best Sonos speaker deals we’ve found below:
Olivia was previously TechRadar’s Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she’s a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She’s previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.
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