Phil Selway - Strange Dance (LP)

Phil Selway’s third solo album arrives like a considered breath after a long walk. Strange Dance came out in February 2023 on Bella Union, and it carries the poise of someone who knows exactly what they want to hear. The Radiohead drummer steps away from the kit here, letting others handle the rhythmic pulse so he can focus on songs, textures, and a quietly cinematic sweep. That choice frames the whole record. It moves with patience, and it rewards the same.

You can hear the attention to detail in the people he brought in. Valentina Magaletti brings a light-on-its-feet drum feel that keeps things alive without crowding the melodies. Adrian Utley from Portishead colours the corners with guitar that glows rather than glares. Composer and arranger Hannah Peel gives the strings a gentle lift, the kind that opens the room rather than stealing the scene. Quinta’s tuned percussion and keys add sparkle, like light on water. It is a generous cast, and Selway lets them all breathe.

The songs unfold with an understated confidence. Check for Signs of Life was the first taste and still feels like the thesis. It drifts in soft and patient, Selway’s voice calm and close, while the arrangement blooms around him. Picking Up Pieces follows like a hand on your shoulder. The hooks are subtle but they stick, especially when the strings rise and the drums nudge things forward. The title track leans into the album’s promise. It sways more than it stomps, finding a quiet grandeur in small movements. Salt Air is a late favourite, all breeze and glow, the kind of song that makes you want to walk home the long way.

What makes Strange Dance click is tone. Selway isn’t trying to out-radio Radiohead or prove he can bash out flashy fills. He leans into gentleness. The tempos sit in that sweet mid zone, the arrangements feel tactile, and the vocals carry a steady warmth. Lyrically he keeps it human. Doubt and care and resilience, the everyday stuff that actually keeps the lights on. Nothing feels overexposed. It’s the confidence of someone who has lived inside records for decades and knows that small choices add up.

If you’ve got a soft spot for elegant art pop and chamber textures, this is prime territory. The influence map might point to late period Talk Talk or the more orchestral corners of British indie, but the record never feels borrowed. Selway’s melodic sense is simple and sturdy, and that gives the arrangements room to bloom. When the strings arrive, they feel earned. When the synths thrum underneath, they feel like a pulse rather than a gimmick.

On wax, the whole thing really settles into its skin. Strange Dance vinyl has the sort of depth that flatters these arrangements, with the low end hugging the percussion and the top end letting the strings shine without a smear. If you’re crate digging in a Melbourne record store or hunting through vinyl records Australia shops, this is the kind of record you clock from across the room because of that Bella Union sleeve and take home to spin at night. And yes, if you prefer to buy Phil Selway records online, this one deserves a spot next to his earlier solo work. Phil Selway albums on vinyl make a tidy three-piece now, and this is the most expansive of the bunch.

There is a quiet bravery to the way Selway recasts himself here. Handing the drums to Magaletti frees him up to sing with more space. Inviting Utley and Peel gives the record colour that feels natural to the songs. The result is cohesive, warm, and gently luminous. Check for Signs of Life and Picking Up Pieces are the clear entry points, but it’s the cumulative drift that gets you. By the end, Strange Dance feels less like a side project and more like a world he can keep exploring.

If you came for fireworks, you might miss the moment. If you sit with it, the album opens like a slow sunrise. That is the trick, and it’s a lovely one. For anyone building a thoughtful shelf of Phil Selway vinyl, this belongs up front.