Review Summary: Don't blink at the Wall Of Eyes, you might miss what it's trying to tell you.
Born from the crucible of lockdown, The Smile isn't a mere side project, but a vibrant artistic channel. Unburdened by the expectations that often encumber Radiohead, the trio dives headfirst into a second sonic kaleidoscope. In just a short space of time, The Smile has carved its own niche in the musical landscape. They're not Radiohead 2.0, but rather a distinct entity, exploring uncharted sonic territories with latent enthusiasm. With their second album, "Wall of Eyes," already garnering critical acclaim, the future seems bright for this remarkably talented musical triumvirate.
Where "A Light for Attracting Attention" pulsated with a frenetic energy and post-punk spirit, "Wall of Eyes" delves deeper, exploring themes of anxiety, surveillance, and social alienation with a newfound maturity and complexity. The album's title track sets the tone perfectly. A pulsing, hypnotic rhythm underpins Yorke's ever-shifting vocals, weaving between paranoia ("Eyes are watching, eyes are searching high and low") and defiance ("But we won't break, we won't bend, we'll find a place to grow".)
Greenwood's jaunting guitar work remains a constant, his layers of melody and dissonance dancing around Yorke's unmistakable vocals. But it's Skinner's rhythmic alchemy that truly sets The Smile apart. His percussive wizardry, informed by both jazz and Afrobeat traditions, injects the music with an infectious groove and propulsive energy. This is most obvious on tracks like Teleharmonic. In the place of Ed O’Brien’s delayed-out atmosphere are instead the shimmering strings of London Contemporary Orchestra. They add sophistication in heaps on tracks like Read The Room and Under Our Pillows.
But "Wall of Eyes" isn't just about darkness. Songs like "Friend of a Friend" offer moments of tenderness and vulnerability. The album's closing track, "Bending Hectic," with its eight-minute odyssey of shifting tempos and instrumental interplay that ends in a distorted catharsis, showcases the band's impressive musical dexterity and willingness to break boundaries.
To summarise, what you get with Wall of Eyes isn’t merely a dignified second sequel but a gentle pastiche of warm melodies that stew long in the subconscious. Think Krautrock meets social commentary, bound by their ever-evolving sound and string-infused beauty. Buckle up for an album that demands repeated listens and lingers after the music ends.
