The Smile are back with a new album titled Wall of Eyes, due for release on January 26th, 2024 via XL Recordings.
Spanning eight tracks, Wall of Eyes is the latest release from the trio consisting of Tom Skinner and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. It was recorded in Oxford and at Abbey Road Studios and features string arrangements by the London Contemporary Orchestra. As a preview, the band has shared the album’s title track, which is accompanied by a music video directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Watch it below. Pre-orders for the album are now ongoing.
The Smile first indicated that they were working on material earlier this year, sharing via an email blast in March that they had been in the studio for nearly two months. In early June, Greenwood confirmed that the trio had “a big backlog of ideas.”
Then, later in June, The Smile shared “Bending Hectic,” the first single from Wall of Eyes. Hitting the road for a tour over the summer, the band played the song live, and unveiled a number of other tracks destined for Wall of Eyes, including “Read the Room” and “Under Our Pillows.
The Smile first formed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and shared their debut album A Light for Attracting Attention in May 2022. Last December, they shared the live album The Smile (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, July 2022). The band has also proved that they’re more than a mere Radiohead side-project with their live shows, and have embarked on a number of tours. This past January, they performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk series.
To coincide with today’s announce, The Smile have also announced a string of UK and European tour dates taking place in March 2024.
Wall of Eyes Artwork:
Wall of Eyes Tracklist:
01. Wall Of Eyes
02. Teleharmonic
03. Read the Room
04. Under Our Pillows
05. Friend of a Friend
06. I Quit
07. Bending Hectic
08. You Know Me!
The Smile 2024 Tour Dates:
03/13 – Copenhagen, DK @ K.B. Hallen
03/15 – Brussels, BE @ Forest National
03/16 – Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
03/18 – Brighton, UK @ Brighton Centre
03/19 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
03/20 – Glasgow, UK @ SEC Armadillo
03/22 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
03/23 – London, UK @ Alexandra Palace
