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The exact state of the Smile is currently unknown, which adds to its intrigue. During the pandemic, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood joined forces with Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner to keep themselves occupied with making music. Surprisingly, within just two years, they have released more songs than Radiohead has in 15 years. While Yorke’s individual albums were viewed as a side project, characterized by electronic and mysterious sounds, and Greenwood’s film scores were something else entirely, the Smile’s music has enough depth to rival their main occupation. In the past, Greenwood has expressed his desire for Radiohead albums to be released more frequently, but retain the same level of quality. Collaborating with the Smile is one way for him to fulfill this wish.
The Smile’s dynamic versatility during live performances is especially impressive. Accompanied by a backlit LED screen featuring the album title of their latest release, “Wall of Eyes,” they incorporate a wide range of musical styles, including spirited jazz-rock, anxious Afrobeat, eerie synthesizers reminiscent of horror film soundtracks, smooth and groovy dub reggae, more experimental krautrock, and a powerful, slow-building rock ballad in the form of “Bending Hectic,” complete with strobe lights. Additionally, the instrumentation shifts from song to song, with guitarist Greenwood utilizing his iconic mop of hair to expertly navigate between various options and seamlessly transitioning from guitar to synthesizer to piano to harp during the track “Speech Bubbles.” Furthermore, saxophonist Robert Stillman adds an extra layer of intensity, particularly on their majestic new piece titled “Instant Psalm.”
Yorke’s songs often explore themes of suspicion, fear, and revenge, but his energy between songs is surprisingly joyful. He begins the Can-inspired track “Zero Sum” with a passionate declaration of “here we go” and gets the audience to join him in belting out the final chorus of “Friend of a Friend,” which takes a jab at cronies. This relaxed demeanor of the singer may stem from the freedom of performing new music without the pressure of meeting fans’ expectations for hits like “Paranoid Android.”
In the past, Yorke’s involvement in any project had a sense of conflict, rejection, or avoidance. However, this band embraces all possibilities and welcomes every good idea. It is likely that their name alludes to surveillance capitalism or political double-talk, but tonight’s lively expedition suggests a more optimistic interpretation. So, let’s just smile!
Source: theguardian.com
