A Light for Attracting Attention

The Smile, comprising Radiohead members Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar) and Jonny Greenwood (guitar, bass) with Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, worked during the COVID-19 lockdown[1] with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.[2] They made their debut in a surprise performance for the concert video Live at Worthy Farm, produced by Glastonbury Festival and streamed on May 22, 2021.[3] In September, Greenwood said they had recorded an album and that it was almost complete.[1]

Yorke performed a Smile song, "Free in the Knowledge", at the Letters Live event at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in October.[4] On January 29 and 30, the Smile performed to an audience for the first time at three shows at Magazine, London, which were livestreamed.[5] On 1 February, the Smile announced a European tour to begin in May.[6] Yorke first performed "Skrting on the Surface" in 2009,[7] and in a different arrangement in 2012 with Radiohead.[8] He first performed "Open the Floodgates" solo in 2010.[9]

The Smile began releasing singles in early 2022. On 5 January, their debut single, "You Will Never Work in Television Again", was released to streaming services.[10] Later that month on 27 January they released their second single, "The Smoke",[11] followed by "Skrting on the Surface" on 17 March.[12] The fourth single, "Pana-vision" was released on 3 April alongside a new solo song from Yorke, "That's How Horses Are", both of which would be used later that same day in the Peaky Blinders series finale.[13]

The Smile announced A Light for Attracting Attention on 20 April 2022, alongside the fifth single "Free in the Knowledge", with a music video directed by Leo Leigh.[14] The album is due for digital release through XL Recordings on 13 May and physical release on 17 June.[14]

All songs are written by the Smile and Nigel Godrich.

Credits adapted from Pitchfork,[15] NPR,[16] Rolling Stone,[17] Spotify,[18] and Tom Skinner's Twitter.[19][20]

The Smile

• Thom Yorke – vocals, guitar
• Jonny Greenwood – guitar, bass
• Tom Skinner – drums

Additional performers

• London Contemporary Orchestra
  • Hugh Brunt – orchestration
  • Eloisa-Fleur Thom – violin
  • Alessandro Ruisi – violin
  • Zara Benyounes – violin
  • Sophie Mather – violin
  • Agata Daraskaite – violin
  • Charlotte Bonneton – violin
  • Zoe Matthews – viola
  • Clifton Harrison – viola
  • Oliver Coates – cello
  • Max Ruisi – cello
  • Clare O’Connell – cello
• Jason Yarde – saxophone
• Robert Stillman – saxophone
• Chelsea Carmichael – flute
• Nathaniel Cross – trombone
• Byron Wallen – trumpet
• Theon Cross – tuba
• Tom Herbert – double bass
• Dave Brown – double bass

Production

• Nigel Godrich
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Artwork

• Thom Yorke
• Stanley Donwood