XL Vinyl & CDs

Review: The Smile's Wall of Eyes is a triumph in atmospheric experimentation, bridging the delicate intensity of Radiohead's later works with a more abstract, avant-garde edge. The album is filled with a sense of mystery, its drifting, formless compositions creating a pervasive feeling of unease. Opener 'Wall of Eyes' beckons with eerie folk textures and art-pop flourishes, setting the tone for the record's dark beauty. Bending Hectic' stands as the album's crowning achievement, its near-ambient build-up exploding into a cathartic, thunderous conclusion, balancing beauty and chaos. Elsewhere, 'Read the Room' and 'I Quit' bring rhythmic complexity, adding layers of groove and intricacy. Thom Yorke's vocals, as always, are haunting, tying the record together with familiar yet fresh emotional depth. Wall of Eyes confidently charts its own path, a significant step forward from A Light for Attracting Attention, cementing The Smile as more than a side project, but a vital voice in today's alt-rock landscape.