The Smile - The Smoke

  • Groovy, low-gravity prog rock from Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood.
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  • When Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's new project The Smile was first unveiled at last year’s Glastonbury livestream, the songs felt like works in progress, a public experiment of sorts. On this fleshed-out studio version of "The Smoke," jazzy undertones and loose percussion from Tom Skinner bring a sense of mischief and playfulness into the mix. Just like on the first single, there's an unsanitized grit here hardly heard in the more recent Radiohead releases. A smoky, Fela Kuti-sounding bassline darkens the skies before Sons of Kemet tuba player Theon Cross and jazz trumpeter Byron Wallen eventually light the fire. Beautiful soaring brass slowly engulfs the track, bringing a fresh approach to Yorke's songwriting and arrangements, helping the song to bloom into something mesmerising. "As I die in the flames / as I set myself on fire," he croons, still as sombre as ever. No complaints here, though.
RA