The inclusion of Sons Of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, and a stripped back 3-piece approach have birthed something brand new: The Smile. Free from the burden of having to progress all of recorded music every few years, free from the legions of angry fans that hate The King Of Limbs because it doesn’t sound enough like Aphex Twin to warrant an IDM association… they can just make an album. Now, after a few months of odd singles and quirky live shows, and the promise of an album on the horizon, it has a release date. A Light For Attracting Attention is set to drop on May 13^th, you can pre-order here. You may also want to hear the album’s 5^th single “Free In The Knowledge” below.

Jonny took to the band’s mailing list to announce the project yesterday. Explaining the confusing wait, he said, “But really, the record still feels worth your time – both the time spent waiting, and the time we’re asking you to invest in hearing it – which is all I can hope for. I’m listening to it constantly, long after I should have had enough, so maybe that’s the right, long-sighted view of this. I hope you have the same experience.”.

Now we have the tracklist, we can take a moment to see what we already know about the album. For anyone who was lucky enough to bag a ticket to the Greenwich shows back in January (like me), you have already heard the whole album – as well as another song that didn’t quite make the cut “Just Eyes And Mouth”, and a cover of Joe Jackson’s “It’s Different For Girls” that also wasn’t album quality apparently.

It was also revealed that the London Contemporary Orchestra plus a full brass section of contemporary UK jazz players, including Byron Wallen, Theon and Nathaniel Cross, Chelsea Carmichael, Robert Stillman, and Jason Yarde, make an appearance in some degree. May 13^th will reveal all.

Aside from these 3 moments, we don’t actually know much about the project, when it’s due, or if any of this music will even feature on an album. We heard rumblings in September that all the music had been recorded, but as Greenwood explained to NME, “We’re thinking of how much to include, whether it’s really finished or if there are a few guitars that need fixing. I’d hope it’ll come out soon, but I’m the wrong person to ask.”. So, who knows?

On the topic of unknown details, when posed with the question of touring with the Smile, Greenwood stated (in true ambiguous fashion), “No idea. It’s undiscussed and undecided. But it feels like we now have to start engaging with the outside world, having worked on this stuff alone. That’s the test, when people finally hear it. I’m looking forward to that, as what the outside world makes of you is more than half the reason for doing it.” Adding, “I’ve never understood the idea of music for its own sake. I remember bands I like who brought out albums I thought were disappointing. The fear of that is a big one. I’ve not met anyone who claims they don’t think about that stuff.”. That sounds like a positive to me.

Until any more information is released the next best thing for anyone with a hankering for some new Greenwood music need look no further than the new Kid A Mnesia box set released back in November. Or even his work on the soundtrack for “Spencer”, a biopic focussing on Princess Diana during the end of her relationship with Prince Charles.

For something artsier, check out the “KID A MNESIA EXHIBITION” on PS5, PC, or Mac. See details below.

The KID A MNESIA EXHIBITION is open…entry is free: https://t.co/sMZGAZX2Jl – PS5, PC & Mac pic.twitter.com/5rWJL6437N

— Radiohead (@radiohead) November 18, 2021