Bending Hectic

"Bending Hectic" is a non-album single by the English rock band the Smile. It was released on 20 June 2023, one day before the band began the second leg of their debut North American tour.

"Bending Hectic"
Single by the Smile
Released20 June 2023
StudioAbbey Road Studios
GenrePost-rock
Length8:00
LabelXL
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Sam Petts-Davies
The Smile singles chronology
"Thin Thing"
(2022)		 "Bending Hectic"
(2023)

Composition

In 2022, during their first North American tour, the Smile regularly debuted material written while traveling.[1] They first performed "Bending Hectic" at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival in 2022. The singer, Thom Yorke, said he had written the lyrics that day.[2] A video of the full set, including "Bending Hectic", was released for 48 hours to promote the live album The Smile (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, July 2022).[3]

Recording

After completing the first leg of their first North American tour, the Smile began recording new material.[4][5] "Bending Hectic" was recorded in Abbey Road Studios, with production by Sam Petts-Davies and strings by the London Contemporary Orchestra.[6]

Release

"Bending Hectic" was released on 20 June 2023 as a non-album single before the Smile resumed their North American tour the next day.[7][8] An animated visualiser was released the same day, directed by Sabrina Nichols with art by Yorke and Stanley Donwood.[9]

Reception

"Bending Hectic" was met with praise from critics and fans when the Smile first performed it, with many calling for the song to be released.[7] Stereogum described the single as an "epic that starts out soft and quiet and builds into a splendorous stomping beast" and called it among "the best and most ambitious of the new songs they debuted on tour last year".[10] American Songwriter said the single would "chill the hearts and minds of fans listening, given its musical nuance and tonal nostalgia".[11]

Personnel

The Smile

Production

  • Sam Petts-Davies

Additional musicians

References
  1. "Thom Yorke confirms The Smile are working on new music". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. Skinner, Tom (13 July 2022). "Watch The Smile debut new song 'Bending Hectic' at Montreux Jazz Festival". NME. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  3. Gallagher, Alex (13 December 2022). "The Smile announce new live album recorded at Montreux Jazz Festival". NME. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  4. "The Smile Are Seven Weeks Into Recording Their Next Album". Stereogum. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. Jones, Abby (16 June 2023). "Jonny Greenwood says The Smile "have a big backlog of ideas"". Consequence. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. Strauss, Matthew (20 June 2023). "The Smile Release New Song "Bending Hectic"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  7. Dunworth, Liberty (20 June 2023). "The Smile release 'Bending Hectic', their first new music of 2023". NME. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. "The Smile's "Bending Hectic" is packed tight with orchestral noise". The FADER. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. "The Smile release new track, 'Bending Hectic'". Crack Magazine. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. Deville, Chris (20 June 2023). "The Smile Share New Single "Bending Hectic": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  11. Burditt, Peter (20 June 2023). "The Smile Release New Single 'Bending Hectic'". American Songwriter. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
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