The Smoke (song) explained

The Smoke
Cover:TheSmileTheSmoke.png
A-Side:"You Will Never Work in Television Again" (double A-side 7" single)
Type:single
Artist:the Smile
Album:A Light for Attracting Attention
Released:27 January 2022
Length:3:39
Label:XL
Producer:Nigel Godrich
Prev Title:You Will Never Work in Television Again
Prev Year:2022
Next Title:Skrting on the Surface
Next Year:2022

"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.

Reception

Both Uproxx[1] and The Fader[2] 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 favourably compared to a demo by the Doors or Dizzy Gillespie from the early 1970s,[3] while Resident Advisor likened it to Fela Kuti.[4] Uncrate said Tom Skinner's drumming "showcases some funk/jazz-infused stylings".[5]

Music video

The video for "The Smoke" was shot on 16 mm film and directed by BAFTA Award-winning writer and director Mark Jenkin.[6] 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".[7] Raphael Helfand of The Fader called the video "a loose interpretation of a 'lyric video'" with "largely unintelligible" words.[2]

Release

"The Smoke" was released on 27 January 2022 as the second single from their debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention.[8] A remix by Dennis Bovell was released on 3 March. Greenwood told The Quietus: "Dennis's 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'."[9]

Personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes.[10]

The Smile

Production

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rossignol . Derrick . Thom Yorke And Jonny Greenwood's The Smile Drop The Groove-Driven New Single 'The Smoke' . . 25 March 2022 . 27 January 2022.
  2. Web site: Helfand . Raphael . The Smile add a dollop of funk to 'The Smoke' . . 26 April 2022 . 27 January 2022.
  3. Web site: Salisbury . Mark . The Smile amp up the atmospherics on second single 'The Smoke' . . 26 April 2022 . 4 February 2022.
  4. Web site: Okonkwo . Emeka . Groovy, low-gravity prog rock from Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. . . 26 April 2022 . 7 February 2022.
  5. Web site: The Smile / The Smoke . Uncrate . 26 April 2022.
  6. Web site: Childers . Chad . Thom Yorke + Jonny Greenwood Reveal The Smile's Second Single 'The Smoke' . . 19 March 2022 . 27 January 2022.
  7. Web site: Ulitski . Rob . The Smile 'The Smoke' by Mark Jenkin . Promonews . 25 March 2022 . 1 February 2022.
  8. Web site: DeVille . Chris . 27 January 2022 . The Smile – 'The Smoke' . 25 March 2022 . Stereogum.
  9. Web site: Eede . Christian . Dennis Bovell Shares Remix Of The Smile's 'The Smoke' . . 26 April 2022 . 3 March 2022.
  10. A Light for Attracting Attention. The Smile. 2022. liner notes. XL Recordings. FXL1196LP. London, England.