Thom Yorke, Mark Pritchard: Tall Tales (digital outlets)

Sometimes it's useful for a critic to make clear their position and preferences, especially when it comes to artists with lengthy and diverse careers.

We've mentioned this in regard to Pink Floyd whose work before Dark Side is rated much higher at Elsewhere than all which followed; with U2 it is the two albums before Pop Mart (Achtung Baby and Zooropa) and just a few early singles. Very little of their output in the past few decades (although we really warmed to their recent Songs of Surrender).

With Tom Yorke we're selective about Radiohead preferences (The Bends still works, In Rainbow more appealing than Kid A) but we've been much taken with his solo releases, soundtracks and especially the two recent albums with The Smile.

We actually like Yorke more now than when Radiohead were starting to lurch in different directions.

So Elsewhere arrives at this Yorke collaboration with British electronica boffin Mark Pritchard who has a vast discography, none of which – we admit with mild embarrassment -- has crossed our path.

So in essence, we come expectant and innocent.

And go away a little confused and disappointed by this.

The electronica which underpins or guides these 12 pieces can be repetitive to the point of irritation and yet every now and again it adds a disconcerting atmosphere to material which is quite approachable (the almost poppy Back in the Game).

But mostly this is music of unease (the unnerving title track with vocal samples and a gloomy crying atmosphere) but when it dials itself down there is an eerie beauty also, as on the ethereal The White Cliffs which becomes mid-period Pink Floyd.

That, the attractive The Spirit and the quirky glitch-pop of Gangsters lie at the centre of the album which is where the gems are. This Conversation is Missing Your Voice is another good one from that mid-point.

Thom Yorke played one of the finest shows we have seen in recent years and as we've acknowledged, much of his recorded output in the past couple of decades – the soundtracks among them – have been particular favourites.

But Tall Tales is that curate's egg (good in parts) and one – unlike The Smile and some of Yorke's more human/humane works – we might not return to.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here