Poster teases a new Paul Thomas Anderson project with The Smile
Indie’s favourite director Paul Thomas Anderson has teamed up with the Radiohead spin-off band, The Smile, for a mysterious new project.
While details of the project are yet to be officially revealed, a cryptic poster spotted by fans in London’s Prince Charles Cinema appears to link the two. The Smile is made up of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, as well as Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner.
Paul Thomas Anderson is no stranger to Radiohead. The director previously worked with the group on their music video for ‘Daydreaming’, which appeared on Moon Shaped Pool. The band’s guitarist, Jonny Greenwood, has also supported Anderson on his films, providing the score for Liquorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood and The Master.
The city centre indie cinema seems to be in on the tease as they tweeted a picture of the mysterious poster. Featuring the band’s name alongside Anderson’s credit, the project is called Wall Of Eyes.
In June, the band released the new single ‘Bending Hectic’, marking their first release since their 2022 debut album A Light For Attracting Attention.
The single didn’t appear on that LP but has become a keen fan favourite track after the band performed it live at the Montreux Jazz Festival last year. The Smile’s fans have been calling for it to be recorded ever since, making it a major moment for the band when ‘Bending Hectic’ was finally officially released.
Meanwhile, Greenwood said earlier this year of new music: “The frustration of having not had access to playing in a band for a couple of years [has] just built up a big backlog of ideas. We’re still firing off each other, and it feels productive. So, while that’s happening, we just wanna keep moving forward, I think.”
The trio have also debuted three other new tracks. ‘Bodies Laughing’, ‘Friend Of A Friend’ and ‘Colours Fly’ were all played by the band across the course of their European tour last summer. It certainly seems like the band are gathering up enough music for a new release, but then where does Paul Thomas Anderson come into it? Only time will tell.
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