Back in the Game (song)

2025 single by Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke

"Back in the Game"

Single by Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke
from the album  Tall Tales
Released| 13 February 2025
Genre|

* Electronic
* rock
* alternative

Length| 4:41
Label| Warp
Producer(s)|

* Mark Pritchard
* Thom Yorke

Mark Pritchard singles chronology
| "In My Heart"
(2020)  | "Back in the Game"
(2025)  | "This Conversation is Missing Your Voice"
(2025)

|
|

Thom Yorke singles chronology
| "Knife Edge / Prize Giving"
(2024)  | "Back in the Game"
(2025)  | "This Conversation is Missing Your Voice"
(2025)

|
|

"Back in the Game" is a song by the English musicians Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke. The first single from Tall Tales, it was released on 13 February 2025 through Warp Records. It is the second collaboration between Pritchard and Yorke after 2016's "Beautiful People".

## Background

[edit]

Yorke, pictured, playing live in 2016

Pritchard had previously collaborated with Yorke, creating two remixes of the track "Bloom" by Radiohead for their remix album, TKOL RMX 1234567.[1] One of these remixes appeared under the alias of "Harmonic 313".[2] Yorke's vocals were also featured on Pritchard's 2016 track, "Beautiful People".[3][4] Yorke performed "Back in the Game" in 2024 during his Everything solo tour of Australia and Asia.[5][6] He first performed it in Christchurch.[6]

## Composition

[edit]

"Back in the Game" has been described as electronic,[4] alternative[7] and rock.[4] Tom Breihan of Stereogum called the track "woozy" and "slippery".[3] The track opens with an eerie synthesiser-based beat.[8] Daisy Carter of DIY called the instrumental aspects of the track a "glitchy, immersive electronic soundscape".[9] The track also makes use of a bass motif throughout, which one critic likened to the sound of a tuba.[10] Andy Price of MusicRadar called the track a "strident, electronic menace".[10]

Many critics noted Yorke's digitally modified vocals throughout the track.[3][8] Yorke's vocals were digitally warped and distorted by Pritchard with the use of a H910 Harmonizer.[8] Critics stated how these modified vocals lended an eerie and mysterious aspect.[10][8]

## Release

[edit]

"Back in the Game" was originally teased on social media. On 7 February 2025, Yorke and Pritchard posted a video clip on Instagram with the song title and release date.[7] On 13 February, the track was released on streaming platforms through Warp.[11]

A music video was released alongside the single.[4] The video was created by Jonathan Zawada, and features "eccentric, monstrous-looking" masked figures slowly walking through a variety of streets.[9][8] Critics likened the visuals to fever dreams and nightmares.[9][3] Zawada said the bassline inspired the video, comparing it to a scene in the 1983 film Staying Alive.[12] Over time, Zawada visualised characters with giant heads and fixed expressions of mania.[12] He said the video highlighted "where we choose to place value in our collective cultural expression" and "how we collectively confront major cultural shifts in the 21st century".[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Radiohead announce stage times for tonight's 'King Of Limbs' remix show and webcast". NME. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
2. ^ Jenke, Tyler (14 February 2025). "Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke Unite for New Single, 'Back in the Game'". Billboard. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
3. ^ a b c d Breihan, Tom (13 February 2025). "Thom Yorke Teams With Mark Pritchard For New Single "Back In The Game": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
4. ^ a b c d Green, Walden (13 February 2025). "Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke Share Video for New Song "Back in the Game"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
5. ^ Kreps, Daniel (13 February 2025). "Hear Thom Yorke Team With Mark Pritchard for New Song 'Back in the Game'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
6. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (23 October 2024). "See Thom Yorke Debut New Song 'Back in the Game' and Unearth Deep Cuts at First Show of Solo Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
7. ^ a b Pilley, Max (8 February 2025). "Thom Yorke teases new Mark Pritchard collaboration 'Back In The Game'". NME. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
8. ^ a b c d e Duran, Anagricel (13 February 2025). "Listen to Thom Yorke and Mark Pritchard's eerie new collab 'Back In The Game' on WARP Records". NME. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
9. ^ a b c Carter, Daisy (13 February 2025). "Thom Yorke and Mark Pritchard are 'Back In The Game' on new collaborative single". DIY. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
10. ^ a b c Price, Andy (13 February 2025). "The rumours were true: Thom Yorke officially becomes a Warp Records artist via a new single with Mark Pritchard - and a nightmarish video". MusicRadar. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
11. ^ Damara Kelly, Tyler. "Thom Yorke and Mark Pritchard unite on new single, "Back In The Game"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
12. ^ a b c Pappis, Konstantinos (13 February 2025). "Thom Yorke and Mark Pritchard Collaborate on New Single 'Back In The Game'". Our Culture. Retrieved 14 February 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Mark Pritchard

Solo albums|

* When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence (2009)
* Under the Sun (2016)
* The Four Worlds (2018)

Collaborative albums|

* A Collection of Short Stories (1993)
* Tall Tales (2025)

Singles|

* "Back in the Game" (2025)

Related articles|

* Global Communication
* Africa Hitech

* v
* t
* e

Thom Yorke / Atoms for Peace

* Thom Yorke
* Flea
* Nigel Godrich
* Mauro Refosco
* Joey Waronker

Studio albums|

| Solo|

* The Eraser
* Tomorrow's Modern Boxes
* Anima

|

Soundtracks|

* Suspiria
* Confidenza

Atoms for Peace|

* Amok

Collaborations|

* Tall Tales

Remix albums|

* The Eraser Rmxs

Singles|

| Solo|

* "Harrowdown Hill"
* "Analyse"
* "FeelingPulledApartbyHorses" / "TheHollowEarth"

|

Atoms for Peace|

* "Default"
* "Judge, Jury and Executioner"

Other songs|

* "Rabbit in Your Headlights"
* "I've Seen It All"
* "Us Placers"
* "Náttúra"
* "Gazzillion Ear (Thom Yorke Remix)"
* "Back in the Game"

Related articles|

* Solo discography
* Radiohead
* The Smile
* Ultraísta
* Stanley Donwood
* Mark Pritchard
* Dead Children Playing
* Dasyomyliobatis thomyorkei
* Everything

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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