The British band The Smile, which consists of two members of the band Radiohead, singer Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood, with the former drummer of jazz Sons of Kemet Tom Skinner, will present their second album called Wall of Eyes live to Czech fans in Prague’s Forum Karlín on June 12. The follow-up to 2022’s award-winning debut A Light For Attracting Attention is out January 26 via XL Recordings. He is captivated by the video clip for the title track from the workshop of the respected American director Paul Thomas Anderson. The British electronic DJ and producer James Holden will play as a precursor in Prague. Tickets for members of the band’s fan club will be on sale from January 10, 1:00 p.m., and for the general public from January 12, 10:00 a.m., on the Ticketmaster and Ticketportal networks. The concert is organized by the Charmenko agency.
They released their first highly acclaimed album A Light For Attracting Attention just two years ago. The first world tour followed immediately, including the then first Prague concert! No wonder – Radiohead’s “side project”, as some media call it, from the workshop of two members of this iconic British formation, supplemented by the drummer of the innovative Sons of Kemet, deserves the full attention of fans and critics. The Smile was formed during the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when Radiohead and no one else could perform publicly. They premiered The Smile as a surprise in 2021 as part of the then online stream of the Glastonbury festival. Since their debut album, they have released two live records as well as Bending Hectic, which also appears on Wall of Eyes.
According to foreign music magazines The Smile, they recorded their second studio album Wall of Eyes in Oxford, Radiohead’s hometown, and at Abbey Road studios. The eight-track album was produced and mixed by Sam Petts-Davies and features strings from the London Contemporary Orchestra. Some of The Smile’s new songs were already “tested” live at concerts on the tour for the first album. The video clip for the title track was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who shares a common work with the members of The Smile – guitarist Jonny Greenwood is the author of the music for Anderson’s films such as Medicinal Pizza, Up to Blood and The Master. Anderson also directed Thom Yorke’s short film Anima and Radiohead’s music video for Daydreaming.
In support of their new album, The Smile, they will go on an extensive European tour this spring and summer, which will also include Prague on June 12.
