The Smile

English art-rock band, The Smile comprises of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, bass, keys) and Jonny Greenwood (guitar, bass, keys) along with Tom Skinner from Sons of Kemet (drums). ‘Don’t Get Me Started’ is their new non-album single, which the band have been playing live prior to this exclusive 12” vinyl release.

The track was produced by Sam Petts-Davies, a trusted collaborator of Yorke’s. Sam was co-producer on Yorke’s critically acclaimed first feature film soundtrack for Suspiria (2018), produced and mixed his second film soundtrack Confidenza (2024) and The Smile’s second album ‘Wall of Eyes’.

Playing like an intense mediation, ‘Don’t Get Me Started’ is a meditative experience you actually reach enlightenment at the end. Opening the track, we have Jonny’s complex and irregular rhythms immediately drawing us in. He has the ability of making his artistry sound so simplistic and minimalist, it’s truly captivating.

As you try to predict Jonny’s next move, Yorke’s vocals to come in. Bringing with him a sense of humanity, Yorke’s raw emotion is stark in contrast to the eeriness it inhabits. With Skinner’s hypnotic and tense drumming coming in at just over the 2 minute mark, the intensity suddenly falls away.

Around 3:40, we are enshrouded in ambient and euphoric bliss, with experimental effects almost sounding like digital birdsong to our ears. Maybe we have touched upon ethereal-sounding nirvana? All we know for sure is the track comes to a satisfying end.

The music video is directed by audiovisual artist Weirdcore, who has previously worked with Radiohead on a vignette for ‘Glass Eyes’ from A Moon Shaped Pool (2016).

The vinyl release also includes track ‘The Slip’, which is not available on streaming platforms.