The Smile have returned with a new single. The trio of Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood and Sons of Kemet co-founding drummer Tom Skinner have shared "Bending Hectic," which you can hear below.
The arrival of "Bending Hectic" follows the Smile's prior teases that they had returned to the studio, burying themselves "deep in recording" after making their debut in 2022.
Produced by Sam Petts-Davies, and featuring strings by the London Contemporary Orchestra, the standalone single was debuted during the Smile's Montreux Jazz Festival appearance in 2022 — and was reportedly written the same day.
While it wasn't included on the ensuing live album from that performance, the track remained a favourite of those who caught the trio in concert. In Exclaim!'s review of the Smile's November 2022 Toronto performance, "Bending Hectic" was described as a composition which "practically sounded like free jazz until its enormous alt-rock crescendo."
Now, you can hear the studio version below.
"Bending Hectic" arrives a day ahead of the Smile kicking off a North American tour, which includes some can't-miss Canadian festival shows as part of Festival d'été de Quebec and RBC Ottawa Bluesfest.
The single also marks the trio's first new music since sharing debut full-length A Light for Attracting Attention last year. The LP was named among Exclaim!'s Best Albums of 2022.
The arrival of "Bending Hectic" follows the Smile's prior teases that they had returned to the studio, burying themselves "deep in recording" after making their debut in 2022.
Produced by Sam Petts-Davies, and featuring strings by the London Contemporary Orchestra, the standalone single was debuted during the Smile's Montreux Jazz Festival appearance in 2022 — and was reportedly written the same day.
While it wasn't included on the ensuing live album from that performance, the track remained a favourite of those who caught the trio in concert. In Exclaim!'s review of the Smile's November 2022 Toronto performance, "Bending Hectic" was described as a composition which "practically sounded like free jazz until its enormous alt-rock crescendo."
Now, you can hear the studio version below.
"Bending Hectic" arrives a day ahead of the Smile kicking off a North American tour, which includes some can't-miss Canadian festival shows as part of Festival d'été de Quebec and RBC Ottawa Bluesfest.
The single also marks the trio's first new music since sharing debut full-length A Light for Attracting Attention last year. The LP was named among Exclaim!'s Best Albums of 2022.
