Here at MusicRadar, we’re always fans of records that don’t overstay their welcome. At just 37 minutes The King Of Limbs certainly doesn’t drag, and almost feels like it’s over before you’ve even noticed it. Which is kind of nice.

Of course, being so short and, as it does, shying away from melody and obvious choruses, it’s understandable that some Radiohead fans might feel a little disappointed by the record (a theme that seems to be cropping up on some message boards).

For us however, it feels like Radiohead are at a nice stage in their career. As a band they’ve always shown a penchant for playing with rhythmic devises, and The King Of Limbs is the album where they’ve really gone to town on experimenting with this element of their sound.

In interviews last year, both Phil Selway and Thom Yorke said that they were daunted by the idea of putting out proper full length albums, and that seems to come out through The King Of Limbs. If rumours are to be believed, however, this may just be part one of several records Radiohead are to release this year.

It’s certainly a much less grand affair than previous efforts, but that’s not to say it has any less to offer. After a week living with the album we can definitely say that it keeps giving on repeated listens. It may not be their master statement, but this is the sound of one of the best bands the UK has ever produced giving themselves room to play with the intricacies of their sound without trying to reinvent the wheel again.

Are you a Radiohead fan like us? Enjoyed The King Of Limbs? Then you'll probably want to enter our Radiohead competition...

To celebrate the release of The King Of Limbs we've teamed up with EMI for a special Radiohead-themed competition. The grand prize definitely qualifies for 'must-have' status:

• All six of Radiohead's EMI albums (Pablo Honey, The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail To The Thief) on vinyl
• A DVD copy of The Best Of Radiohead: The Videos
• A CD copy of The Best Of Radiohead
• In addition, five runners-up will receive a CD copy of The Best Of Radiohead

To enter, just answer this question: Who is the producer often referred to as the sixth member of Radiohead?

A. George Martin
B. Nigel Godrich
C. John Leckie

Enter the competition here.

Entrants must be over 18. T&C's apply. Competition closes on 22/3/2011.

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