Los Angeles supergroup SML have shared “Chicago Four,” the latest single from their highly anticipated second album, How You Been, set for release on November 7th via International Anthem. Continuing their unique method of sculpting studio albums from live improvisations, the track uses a recording from Chicago’s legendary Empty Bottle as its foundation.
“Chicago Four” builds from interlocking synth and percussion loops into a complex, hypnotic groove. Gregory Uhlmann’s wobble-effected guitar and Anna Butterss’s nimble bassline weave an intricate counterpoint before Booker Stardrum’s swinging drums enter the fray. A standout moment arrives with saxophonist Josh Johnson’s distorted horn stabs, powerfully evoking the sample-heavy productions of golden-era hip-hop acts like The Bomb Squad. This dense sonic tapestry becomes a launchpad for a soaring, cascading melody from Johnson and synthesist Jeremiah Chiu, creating an infectiously shifting and otherworldly sound.
The track perfectly encapsulates the hyperrealist, collectivist approach of the new album, which was crafted from recordings of the band’s entirely improvised shows in late 2024 and early 2025. Following their acclaimed 2024 debut, Small Medium Large (reviewed here), the new work further solidifies SML’s singular musical language.
The video was created by Nespy5euro, who also created the video for their lead single, Taking Out the Trash.
There is, in fact, a pointed and sincere unity to SML’s playing that can only be a result of the intimate and improvisational manner in which the music was conceived. Even at its most jazzy and complex moments, SML is bright, airy and never willfully obtuse.
Thomas Blake (KLOF Mag Review of Small Medium Large)
Fans can experience the band’s exploratory energy live this fall during a run of shows across the US and UK, including stops at London’s Church of Sound, Chicago’s Thalia Hall, and a two-night residency at LA’s Zebulon.
Tour Dates
Live Oak FL – Friday October 31st – Hulaween
London UK – Thursday November 20th – Church of Sound
Los Angeles CA – Monday December 1st – Zebulon
Los Angeles CA – Tuesday December 2nd – Zebulon
Philadelphia PA – Thursday December 11th – Solar Myth
Brooklyn NY – Friday December 12th – The Sultan Room
Brooklyn NY – Saturday December 13th – The Sultan Room
Chicago IL – Sunday December 14th – Thalia Hall
San Diego CA – Wednesday February 25th – The Loft @ UCSD
San Francisco CA – Thursday February 26th – SF JAZZ Joe Henderson Lab
San Francisco CA – Friday February 27th – SF JAZZ Joe Henderson Lab
Knoxville TN – Thursday March 26th – Big Ears Festival (3 night residency)
Knoxville TN – Friday March 27th – Big Ears Festival (3 night residency)
Knoxville TN – Saturday March 28th – Big Ears Festival (3 night residency)