Desert Island Disk album art

Desert Island Disk

Radiohead
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)
Safe 110 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range4/10
Sudden Changesnone
Texturesmooth
Predictabilityhigh
Vocal Stylesoft vocals
Notes: Gentle, flowing melody with Spanish guitar tropes and subtle ambient sweeps creates a serene, immersive atmosphere without harsh elements or abrupt shifts. Stereo imaging adds spatial depth but remains understated and calming.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksnone
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A mesmerizing, sweet-flowing track built around Spanish guitar and ambient sounds, exploring themes of release, awakening, and different types of love.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: dreamy, melancholy, reflective

Traditions: alternative rock

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 4/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.

Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.

Texture: smooth.

Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.

Vocal style: soft vocals.

Where this sits in Radiohead's catalog

We have 78 songs from Radiohead in the library. Of those, 7 are rated Safe, 55 Moderate, and 16 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 4/10 sits below the artist average of 6.6, making it the #76 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from A Moon Shaped Pool

We have 12 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

2016 context

Released in 2016. We have 368 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.3/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
dreamy · 1121melancholy · 5399reflective · 5792
Traditions
alternative rock · 991

Why this rating

We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-14. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "Desert Island Disk"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "Desert Island Disk" by Radiohead?

"Desert Island Disk" by Radiohead rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 4/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.

How loud is "Desert Island Disk" — what is its dynamic range?

"Desert Island Disk" has a dynamic range of 4/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.

Does "Desert Island Disk" have sudden or surprising changes?

No. "Desert Island Disk" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.

What is "Desert Island Disk" best for?

In our library "Desert Island Disk" is recommended for: anxiety relief, deep listening, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "Desert Island Disk" released?

"Desert Island Disk" is from 2016, on the album "A Moon Shaped Pool". It appears in our 2010s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "Desert Island Disk"?

We tag "Desert Island Disk" as dreamy, melancholy, reflective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "Desert Island Disk"?

The vocal style is soft vocals.

Should I listen to "Desert Island Disk"?

If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Desert Island Disk" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.

Songs with the same DNA

smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

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