British band The Smile have announced their sophomore studio album Wall of Eyes, an accompanying tour, and released the record's title-track, which features a music video directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Helmed by Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, with Tom Skinner from Sons of Kemet, The Smile made their debut in a surprise performance for the concert video Live at Worthy Farm, produced by Glastonbury Festival and streamed in 2o21. The band's new record Wall of Eyes is the hotly anticipated follow up to the band’s 2022 lauded debut LP A Light for Attracting Attention. Recorded between Oxford and Abbey Road Studios, Wall of Eyes is produced and mixed by previous band collaborator Sam Petts-Davies and features string arrangements by the London Contemporary Orchestra.

Wall of Eyes album cover by Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke. Credit: Press

Heavy on eye-related imagery, Anderson's video for the brooding track features kaleidoscopic visuals of vocalist and frontman Thom Yorke engaging in increasingly bizarre, avant-garde situations, at one point sharing a drink alongside a long line of eery doppelgangers. Academy Award nominated director Paul Thomas Anderson, previously directed music videos for Radiohead's tracks 'Daydreaming,' 'Present Tense' and 'The Numbers.'

Likewise, Smile and Radiohead guitarist Greenwood has scored the music for Anderson's films, including Phantom Thread, The Master, There Will Be Blood and his latest effort, Licorice Pizza.

The band have also announced news of a UK and European tour for 2024. Opening at Dublin’s 3Arena on March 7, the band will make their way through Europe, with dates in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, closing with a show at London’s Alexandra Palace on March 23.

Tickets for The Smile's upcoming performances are available via Ticketmaster from Friday 17th November at 9am. 

Listen to 'Wall of Eyes' and watch the PTA directed music video below:

Wall of Eyes is set for release on the 26th of January via XL Recordings

Wall of Eyes tracklist:

1. ‘Wall Of Eyes’
2. ‘Teleharmonic’
3. ‘Read The Room’
4. ‘Under Our Pillows’
5. ‘Friend Of A Friend’
6. ‘I Quit’
7. ‘Bending Hectic’
8. ‘You Know Me!’