After six years away from recording, Nigel Godrich has resurfaced with something genuinely unexpected. The legendary Radiohead producer has formed Dragonflies with musician Dhani Harrison, and their self-titled debut album is set to arrive September 18th. The lead single“Slower”dropped earlier this week with an accompanying music video that showcases the project’s meticulous approach to visual storytelling. The sound is described as“earthbound space rock,”blending organic guitars with electronic elements in a way that feels both ethereal and grounded.
What makes this collaboration particularly interesting is the creative process behind it. Recorded at Harrison’s Brixton studio, the album came together through intuitive, real-time collaboration. Godrich and Harrison would work off each other’s ideas, building songs from tape loops and hand-played grooves with additional percussion from Joey Waronker. The pair had connected during COVID, a conversation that also influenced Harrison’s 2023 solo album Innerstanding. Now, with Harrison having relocated from Los Angeles back to England and Godrich stepping out of touring and recording entirely, Dragonflies feels like the perfect convergence of two artists at significant turning points in their lives.
The influences woven throughout the album include artists like Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, David Sylvian, and Ryuichi Sakamoto—names that hint at the sophisticated, atmosphere-heavy sound fans can expect. For anyone who’s followed Godrich’s production work or Harrison’s solo career, Dragonflies represents uncharted territory that respects both artists’legacies while pushing into something completely new. Are you planning to stream the album on release day?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.