Dhani Harrison and Nigel Godrich announce debut album as Dragonflies
Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich and composer Dhani Harrison have joined forces to form Dragonflies.
The pair have announced their debut self-titled album with the release of their first single, ‘Slower’. Dragonflies will be released on September 18th via Dark Horse Records/BMG.
The unlikely collaboration came about after Harrison reached out to Godrich during pandemic isolation for some musical guidance.
From there, things snowballed; Godrich invited Harrison into his Brixton studio, where the two began building songs together. “It’s like one person throwing something in the air and the other person catching it,” Godrich shared of their process.
Harrison agreed with that sentiment, adding, “He’s a machine. He has strong opinions about what he wants to hear, and for me it’s very humbling. That’s why it’s such a new experience.”
There are a couple more helping hands across the album, including a percussion-based assist from Godrich’s Ultraísta and Atoms for Peace bandmate Joey Waronker.
The duo came to their band name serendipitously. “Dragonflies are a symbol of spiritual enlightenment,” Harrison explained, adding, “When Nigel suggested the name I was like, yeah, sold, done. Whenever I see a dragonfly, it’s magical.”
The new track is true to its namesake, presenting a finely balanced trip-hop extravaganza with soft, steady vocals from Harrison. It isn’t hard to hear Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, Japan’s David Sylvian, and Ryuichi Sakamoto in the hand-played hypnotic groove.
This announcement marks a new chapter for both musicians. After two decades based primarily in Los Angeles while fronting thenewno2 and scoring film and television, Harrison had recently returned to his native England, while Godrich recently pulled back from touring and recording, though his work with Beck and IDLES continues to cement him as one of the most revered producers on today’s circuit.
Listen to the new track from the new band below.
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