The Smile have unveiled new single ‘Friend Of A Friend’, taken from their forthcoming sophomore album ‘Wall Of Eyes’, due out on 26 January on XL Recordings.

The track was first showcased live during the band’s 2022/2023 tour, with the studio version featuring strings from the London Contemporary Orchestra and saxophone from Robert Stillman.

LISTEN HERE:

The official music video for ‘Friend Of A Friend’, by motion picture director Paul Thomas Anderson, will be premiered alongside a surround sound album playback of ‘Wall Of Eyes’ at a series of one-off events hosted at independent cinemas between 18-25th January.

The events, titled Wall Of Eyes, On Film will celebrate the new album and the band’s collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson. Screenings will take place at 12 cinemas across the globe, including venues in London & Glasgow, and comprise of:

• Wall Of Eyes album playback in its entirety, for the first and only time in surround sound.
• Never-before-seen footage of the album’s recording sessions.
• The world film premiere of Friend Of A Friend and a presentation of Wall Of Eyes, both directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and shot on 35mm film*.
• A programme looking back over Paul Thomas Anderson’s previous directorial collaborations with both Thom Yorke and Radiohead to include ANIMA (short film) and Radiohead’s Daydreaming (35mm), Present Tense & The Numbers.

More information + ticket info available here

‘Wall Of Eyes’ is the follow up to the band’s 2022 acclaimed debut ‘A Light For Attracting Attention’. Recorded between Oxford and Abbey Road Studios, the full-length was produced and mixed by Sam Petts-Davies and features string arrangements by the London Contemporary Orchestra.

PRE-ORDER HERE:

The new album Wall Of Eyes, 26th January 2024.

The title track, Wall Of Eyes is out today and is accompanied by a video from film director Paul Thomas Anderson.

Pre-order the Wall Of Eyes album: https://t.co/wUccoMhTjO pic.twitter.com/3vX4y8Unul

— The Smile (@thesmiletheband) November 13, 2023

The Smile ‘Wall Of Eyes’ Full Album Tracklisting:

Wall Of Eyes
Teleharmonic
Read The Room
Under Our Pillows
Friend Of A Friend
I Quit
Bending Hectic
You Know Me!

Image Credit: Frank Lebon / PRESS