Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool

The Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool vinyl is one of the more sought-after releases to come out of XL Recordings in recent years, and this double LP pressing is a clean example of why the band continues to matter to collectors and listeners in equal measure.

About Radiohead and A Moon Shaped Pool

Radiohead need little introduction, but context always helps. The Oxford group spent decades building a body of work that consistently resisted easy categorisation, and A Moon Shaped Pool, released in 2016, arrived as their ninth studio album after a five-year gap. It was their first album of new material since The King of Limbs, and the anticipation surrounding it was considerable. The record drew on orchestral arrangements, Thom Yorke’s piano work, and production from longtime collaborator Nigel Godrich to create something that felt both reflective and deliberate. Several tracks had circulated in live performance for years before finally receiving proper studio treatment here, which gave the release an added weight for anyone who had followed the band closely.

The Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool Vinyl Pressing

This is the standard XL Recordings double LP release, catalog number XL 790, pressed in 2016. It spans two records and presents the album in the format it deserves. XL Recordings handled the release with care, as you would expect from a label with their track record, and the double LP configuration gives the album room to breathe across its runtime. The catalog number is consistent with first-run pressings from that year, making this a genuine contemporary release rather than a later repress. If you are building a complete Radiohead collection on vinyl, this is the catalog reference you want to have.

Why This Copy Belongs in Your Collection

Double LP releases from major independent labels in 2016 were pressed with quality in mind, and XL Recordings has always prioritised the physical product. For collectors, the appeal here is straightforward: this is an original pressing of a significant late-career album from one of the most consistently serious rock bands of the last thirty years. The album rewards repeated listening on vinyl specifically, where the dynamic range and textural detail in Godrich’s production come through with more depth than compressed digital formats tend to allow. Whether you are filling a gap in your Radiohead collection or coming to the record fresh, this double LP is the right way to hear it.