Radiohead's Thom Yorke pens songs for Free Tibet movement

Radiohead’s lead singer, Thom Yorke, is reported to have recently composed three songs for the soundtrack of a documentary about the Free Tibet movement. The film, titled When The Dragon Swallowed The Sun, is directed by Dirk Simon and also features new music from artist Damien Rice and composer Philip Glass.

The documentary explores Tibet's political struggle with China, and the factors that have brought the Tibetan freedom movement to a relative standstill. The footage, which has been "seven years in the making" according to the film's website, includes interviews with exiled Tibetans, Chinese artists and Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as Hollywood star Richard Gere and South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Simon told Twentyfourbit this week that Philip Glass is responsible for composing the film’s theme song, as well as a piece for its "grand finale". The soundtrack will also reportedly feature previously released music by Björk, Eric Clapton, UNKLE, DJ Spooky and Massive Attack's Rob Del Naja.

Though none of the contributors have yet confirmed their participation in the film, a commercial release for the soundtrack is "being negotiated as we speak", according to Simon. Radiohead have been vocal supporters of the Tibetan cause, calling on prime minister Gordon Brown to become more involved in the conflict, London’s Guardian reported.

Yorke will also be working on a Peter Gabriel cover in the near future. In October, Gabriel announced that he had recorded an album titled Scratch My Back, composed of covers from several contemporary acts including Radiohead. In return, Radiohead has agreed to contribute to an album of Peter Gabriel covers titled I'll Scratch Yours.