This is another interesting one rhythmically, there's surely 5 beats to the measure but the emphasized guitar notes effectively split that beat in thirds, creating the same on/off syncopation effect that drives Myxomatosis through its treacherous slipstream. In Go To Sleep, the same 'slipstream' effect deploys only while the guitar is ascending up fifths in the All I Need bass fashion, giving every other measure the feeling of lift as the rhythmic ground seems to fall out from under the melodic ascent over and over again. This cyclical tension is made an upward spiral by the dynamic additions throughout - Phil drum's hit like a defibrillator, all guitars and the bass systematically continue to shift up octaves and pretty soon Ed's cooing a rising melody as Thom ramps up "I'm gonna go to sleep and let this wash all over me!". The transition to 4/4 here is seamless and a great release of tension. The song is now free to groove and 'swag', Colin comes to the forefront in that respect and reminds everyone that this is a jam band when he is in charge, until his brother decides to send his guitar through a max/msp patch he created (consider it the Autechre instrument) and glitch the song apart. Figures that he'd write a patch that seems to tremelo pick at different rates for him. It doesn't make it a genius solo, just an incredibly fun performance idea and silly/awesome sound. Don't take the band too seriously.
Because if you do then you'll eventually be reminded of all their embarrassing music videos, Go To Sleep being no exception to the cringe-worthiness of their video canon. Thom is rendered in PS1 graphics emoting on a park bench while some buildings crumble and rebuild, I guess. It doesn't mean anything, it's not appealing to look at. I'm prepared to forget about it again.
The live performances, thankfully, negate any bad vibes the video leaves. The light show of the 2012 tour makes every song special and they certainly nailed it here in Newark after not playing it for some 8 years or so - but the real gem is the Earls' Court performance. It was the grand finale of their '03 tour, in the heat of the HttT era frenzy and energy, many definitive performances come from this show, Go To Sleep being one of them. You can tell they have their hearts in it on this night, Thom's energy is legendary and the recording fidelity is golden. This is the rock band they were destined to become, no matter how much they tried to avoid it.
9/10
Pyramid Song (10)
Airbag
Where I End And You Begin (9.5)
The National Anthem (9)
In Limbo
Go to Sleep
Karma Police (8)
Everything In Its Right Place
A Wolf At The Door
Separator (7.5)
Electioneering
Little By Little
Fake Plastic Trees (7)
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Videotape
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