Rating 10/10 – CLASSIC Album
The Smile’s latest album Cutouts, released on October 4, 2024, is a dynamic follow-up to their earlier 2024 release, Wall of Eyes. Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Tom Skinner dive deeper into experimental territory (think Kid A), blending ambient electronics with post-rock elements while maintaining their signature skittering rhythms and eerie atmospherics. Recorded during the same sessions as Wall of Eyes, Cutouts stands out as more than a collection of leftover tracks, offering a unique and expansive sound that pushes their creative boundaries.
Tracks like “Foreign Spies” and “Instant Psalm” open the album with cool, icy synth textures reminiscent of Kid A-era Radiohead, while songs like “Zero Sum” and “The Slip” demonstrate Yorke’s cryptic lyricism and Greenwood’s playful yet intricate guitar work. The album moves between jazz-inflected grooves and electronic experimentalism, keeping the listener engaged with unexpected shifts and ambient layers.
Despite its more playful moments, Cutouts still retains a haunting beauty, especially with standout tracks like “Bodies Laughing,” praised for its subtle key changes and atmospheric depth. The album has been noted for its balance between tight performances and improvisational elements, giving it the feel of a live jazz combo caught in the studio .
Cutouts showcases the trio’s continuing evolution as they explore new sonic landscapes, proving once again that The Smile is more than just a Radiohead side project. Fans of the band’s previous work will find much to love in this cohesive yet daring release.