Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood and Sons of Kemet‘s Tom Skinner have shared a new single, “Free in the Knowledge”, and announced the debut album from their trio, The Smile.
Entitled A Light For Attracting Attention, the album will feature previously released tracks “Pana-vision”, “Skrting on the Surface”, “The Smoke”, and “You Will Never Work in Television Again”, and other yet unheard originals, totaling 13 songs in all. It will arrive on May 13th via XL Recordings.
A Light For Attracting Attention was produced and mixed by Nigel Godrich, who has produced every Radiohead album since OK Computer and most of Thom Yorke’s solo work. It will also feature string arrangements courtesy of the London Contemporary Orchestra and a full brass section, including Byron Wallen, Theon and Nathaniel Cross, Chelsea Carmichael, Robert Stillman, and Jason Yarde.
“Free in the Knowledge”, like previous singles from The Smile, holds true to Radiohead’s atmospheric palette. With droning synth and horns, piano, and acoustic guitar, the song highlights Yorke’s falsetto vocals, and the understated drumming of Tom Skinner adds a welcome sense of groove before the song concludes.
The track is accompanied by a cinematic video from director Leo Leigh. The previously released video for “The Smoke” was created by Mark Jenkin, as was the video for “Skrting on the Surface”, a song that has been performed live by Radiohead and Thom Yorke. Duncan Loudon directed the video for “You Will Never Work in Television Again”, and a visualizer for “Papa-vision” was produced by Sabrina Nichols using the artwork of Stanley Donwood. Watch the videos for all five songs below.
A Light for Attracting Attention will be available for download and streaming on May 13th. Yellow double vinyl and CDs are available for pre-order and will be released on June 17th. The Smile has tour dates in Europe beginning May 16th in Croatia, with no North American dates planned as of now. View a list of tour dates and the tracklist for the album below, and for more information, visit the band’s website.
The Smile – “Free in the Knowledge”
The Smile – “Pana-vision”
The Smile – “Skrting On The Surface”
The Smile – “The Smoke”
The Smile – “You Will Never Work In Television Again”
