The Smile Preps 2nd 2024 Album ‘Cutouts’ & Shares 2 New Singles

The Smile will release a new album entitled Cutouts on October 4 through XL Recordings. The band – Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood and Sons of Kemet’s Tom Skinner – previewed their second full-length of 2024 with two new singles, “Foreign Spies” and “Zero Sum.”

The Smile’s second album overall, Wall Of Eyes, was released in January and followed their 2022 debut album A Light For Attracting Attention. The 10-song Cutouts was recorded with producer Sam Petts-Davies during sessions for Wall Of Eyes held in Oxford and at Abbey Road Studios. String arrangements were provided by the London Contemporary Orchestra. The album’s cover art was painted while recording was underway by Yorke and Stanley Donwood.

The two new Cutouts singles follow the previously shared album tracks, “Don’t Get Me Started” and “The Slip.” The Smile performed “Don't Get Me Started” on tour earlier this year, which was one of seven Cutouts songs the trio brought to the live stage.

The trio intended to continue touring in Europe this month but canceled the outing after Greenwood “became seriously ill from an infection that needed emergency hospital treatment” that included a stint in intensive care. Greenwood was said to be “out of danger” while recovering.

Stream the new The Smile singles, “Zero Sum” and “Foreign Spies”: