Description
The debut from Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and drummer Tom Skinners new group is instantly, unmistakably the best album yet by a Radiohead side project.
This bid for transcendence amid chaos isnt the only thing thats familiar about The Smile. The trio also includes Yorkes main songwriting partner in Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood, along with drummer Tom Skinner, whose eclectic resume includes work with jazz-funk explorers Sons of Kemet, electronic fusionist Floating Points, and UK rapper Kano. Its the first time Yorke and Greenwood have collaborated on a major project outside of their main gig, and, not coincidentally, “A Light for Attracting Attention” sounds more like a proper Radiohead album than any of the numerous side projects the bands members have done on their own.
Weve got Greenwoods lattice-like fingerpicking and saintly electric guitar tone. Theres Yorkes voice, still in pristine form, wailing like an angel in limbo and gnashing like a punk who woke up on the wrong side of the gutter. There are synths and Greenwoods sidelong orchestral flourishes signaling end times. Longtime producer Nigel Godrich is in the control room, giving each sound an immense and terrifying and beautiful glow. How about some wonky rhythms that keep your mind from slipping into passive mode? Yep, lots of those too. All due respect to the guys from Radiohead who are not in the Smile, but if A Light for Attracting Attention were presented as the triumphant follow-up to the groups last album, 2016s A Moon Shaped Pool, Id bet that most people would have happily been fooled. (via Pitchfork)
Label: XL Recordings
Format:2x Vinyl, LP, Album
Released: Jun 17, 2022
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock
File under: Indie / Alternative
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