"We were able to just focus on the music for, you know, one and a half years--'til the record was finished, really. I mean, we were left to our own devices without much input from anybody else. So yes, that was good--but it took us a while to get to that position because we had to have The Bends and OK computer to get us there."

"Actually, our own label at this stage...I mean, we're trying to do so many other things I think that'd probably be taking on that extra little bit too much. We're still contractually tied in as well, and it is actually a good relationship! So, you know, it's one of those classic things: if it isn't broke, don't fix it." That much appears true--Radiohead have always seemed to have a positive symbiotic relationship with EMI/Parlophone.

I dive in with another personal inquiry: "Do you feel that you are able to contribute to the music without being distracted by ambitions, and have your ambitions been realized in this band?" Momentarily stumped, Phil utters, "Ooph!" then chuckles, "That was a good question!"

"I think that with all of us the chief ambition is now to become better musicians. It might sound a bit worldly saying that, but I think I can honestly say that is the one now. The way we work does tend to stretch us quite a lot...so yeah--I think that way the way we work and our ambitions are fairly well in tune. Possibly there are things which for all of us...don't quite go as we would like in Radiohead, but you know, five people working together is always a compromise! But if the albums are that compromise, then it's probably not such a bad thing."