The Smoke (song)
"The Smoke" is a song by the English rock band the Smile. It was released on 27 January 2022 as the second single from their debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention.[3]
"The Smoke" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by the Smile | ||||
from the album A Light for Attracting Attention | ||||
A-side | "You Will Never Work in Television Again" (double A-side 7" single) | |||
Released | 27 January 2022 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:39 | |||
Label | XL | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Nigel Godrich | |||
The Smile singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"The Smoke" on YouTube |
Reception
Both Uproxx[4] and The Fader[5] noted the song was more in line with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's main band Radiohead's later work than the Smile's previous single, "You Will Never Work in Television Again", with Uproxx calling the song "a groove-driven single". Earmilk favorably compared the sound to that of a demo by the Doors or Dizzy Gillespie from the early 1970's,[1] while Resident Advisor compared it to the sound of Fela Kuti.[6] Uncrate said Tom Skinner's drumming "showcases some funk/jazz-infused stylings".[7]
Music video
The video for "The Smoke" was shot on 16 mm film and directed by BAFTA Award-winning writer and director Mark Jenkin.[8] Rob Ulitski of Promonews said Jenkin's video "doesn't conform to traditional narrative or promo logic, existing instead as a conceptual form to accompany the music."[9] Raphael Helfand of The Fader called the video "a loose interpretation of a 'lyric video'" with "largely unintelligible" words.[5]
Remix
An official remix of the song by Dennis Bovell was released by the band on 3 March 2022. Greenwood told The Quietus, "Dennis' work runs like a thread through so much of the music I love. I'm more proud than I can say that he's done a dub mix of our song 'The Smoke'."[10]
Personnel
Credits adapted from album liner notes.[11]
The Smile
- Thom Yorke – vocals, bass
- Jonny Greenwood – guitar
- Tom Skinner – drums
Production
References
- Salisbury, Mark (4 February 2022). "The Smile amp up the atmospherics on second single 'The Smoke'". Earmilk. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- Dombal, Ryan (12 May 2022). "The Smile: A Light for Attracting Attention". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- DeVille, Chris (27 January 2022). "The Smile – 'The Smoke'". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- Rossignol, Derrick (27 January 2022). "Thom Yorke And Jonny Greenwood's The Smile Drop The Groove-Driven New Single 'The Smoke'". Uproxx. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- Helfand, Raphael (27 January 2022). "The Smile add a dollop of funk to 'The Smoke'". The Fader. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- Okonkwo, Emeka (7 February 2022). "Groovy, low-gravity prog rock from Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- "The Smile / The Smoke". Uncrate. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- Childers, Chad (27 January 2022). "Thom Yorke + Jonny Greenwood Reveal The Smile's Second Single 'The Smoke'". Loudwire. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- Ulitski, Rob (1 February 2022). "The Smile 'The Smoke' by Mark Jenkin". Promonews. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- Eede, Christian (3 March 2022). "Dennis Bovell Shares Remix Of The Smile's 'The Smoke'". The Quietus. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- A Light for Attracting Attention (liner notes). The Smile. London, England: XL Recordings. 2022. FXL1196LP.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)