The National Anthem

Constructed around an ominous, heavily fuzzed-out bassline that Thom Yorke purportedly wrote as a teenager, the track rapidly descends into an overwhelmingly chaotic, free-jazz brass explosion heavily inspired by Charles Mingus. The aggressive, claustrophobic arrangement utilizes radio interference and ondes Martenot to convey intense urban paranoia and isolation. It stands as one of the most abrasive and avant-garde compositions of the 'Kid A' sessions.