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The Smile You Send Out Returns to You

The Smile You Send Out Returns to You is the second studio album by Scottish experimental folk band Constant Follower, led by Stephen McAll. It was released on 28 February 2025 by Last Night from Glasgow. The album entered several UK charts, including No. 14 on the Official Albums Sales Chart, No. 10 on the Official Vinyl Albums Chart, No. 6 on the Official Independent Albums Chart, No. 1 on the Official Independent Album Breakers Chart, No. 2 in Scotland, and No. 3 on the Official Folk Albums Chart in March 2025.[1][2][3] It was longlisted for the 2025 Scottish Album of the Year Award.[4]

The Smile You Send Out Returns to You
Cover artwork for Constant Follower's The Smile You Send Out Returns To You. Original painting by Heather Nevay. It depicts a lone boy encapsulated in a snow globe, with a small mystical village winding up the barely shown hill in the background. The boy is looking into the camera mysteriously.
Studio album by
Constant Follower
Released28 February 2025 (2025-02-28)
Recorded2023–2024
StudioHum of Gold, Stirling
GenreNeofolk, slowcore
LabelLast Night from Glasgow, Golden Hum Recordings
Producer
Constant Follower chronology
Neither Is, Nor Ever Was
(2021)		 The Smile You Send Out Returns to You
(2025)

Background and recording

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Recording took place at McAll's Hum of Gold studio in Stirling. Mixing and co-production were carried out by Dan Duszynski of Sub Pop band Loma at Dandy Sounds in Dripping Springs, Texas. Mastering was by Carl Saff in Chicago.[5][6][7]

Composition and themes

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Coverage describes a song cycle concerned with recovery, mental health, addiction and sobriety, parenthood and care, set to restrained arrangements with Slowcore adjacency.[8][9] [10][11]

Artwork

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The sleeve features a painting by Scottish artist Heather Nevay. Band materials credit Nevay, and the artist identifies the work as Thin-skinned boy. The design is credited to Timothy O'Donnell on the album sleeve.[12][13][14]

Release and formats

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The album was released on 28 February 2025 by Last Night from Glasgow. Formats included gatefold vinyl pressings in pink, clear and white, compact disc and digital download. It was released to streaming platforms on the same date by Golden Hum Recordings.[15][16][17]

Singles

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  • "Whole Be" - released August 2024.[18]
  • "All Is Well" - released September 2024.[19]
  • "Almost Time To Go" - released January 2025.[20]
  • "Patient Has Own Supply" - 2024 single ahead of the album.[21]

Videos

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Official videos were released via the Constant Follower YouTube channel.

  • "Whole Be" - directed by Peter Lilly (Code Word Zebra).[22][23]
  • "All Is Well" - directed by Kris Boyle.[24][25]
  • "Almost Time To Go" - directed by Kris Boyle.[26]
  • "Patient Has Own Supply" - directed by Martin J. Pickering.[27]
  • "It's Only Silence" - directed by Kris Boyle, featuring Mark Tranmer (GNAC).[28]

Critical reception

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Clash (magazine) described the record as "a song cycle of recovery and transcendence".[29] The Scotsman praised its "mellow, melodic" qualities and "sumptuous sea of sound".[30] Various Small Flames highlighted the album's treatment of light and empathy within darker subjects.[31] God Is In The TV noted the balance of richer sonics with intimacy.[32] Under the Radar (magazine) covered the campaign and premieres around the title track and "Whole Be".[33][34] Backseat Mafia awarded 9/10 and called it "a stunning, introspective album of intelligence, beauty and emotional depth".[35]

Track listing

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All songs written by Stephen McAll.[36]

  1. "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You"
  2. "Whole Be"
  3. "Almost Time to Go"
  4. "All Is Well"
  5. "Happy Birthdays"
  6. "Gentle Teaching"
  7. "Patient Has Own Supply"
  8. "It's Only Silence"

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the album's Bandcamp page and label listings.[37][38]

Constant Follower
  • Stephen McAll - vocals; guitars; synthesisers; piano; bass; production; recording
  • Andrew (Kurd) Pankhurst - guitars
  • Kathleen (Kessi) Stosch - vocals
  • Amy Campbell - vocals
  • David Guild - bass
  • Gareth Perrie - piano
Additional musicians
  • Dan Duszynski - vocals; guitar; synthesisers; drums; co-production; mixing
  • Jim Chadwin - electric guitar
  • Mark Tranmer (Gnac, The Montgolfier Brothers) - piano; guitar; mellotron (track 8)
  • Andy Aquarius - harp (track 3)
  • Islay McAll - sample (track 1)
Technical
  • Stephen McAll - recording at Hum of Gold, Stirling
  • Dan Duszynski - recording, mixing, co-production at Dandy Sounds, Dripping Springs, Texas
  • Carl Saff - mastering, Chicago
  • Heather Nevay - cover artwork (Thin-skinned boy)

Charts

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Chart (2025) Peak
position
UK Official Albums Sales[39] 14
UK Official Physical Albums[40] 14
UK Official Vinyl Albums[40] 10
UK Official Independent Albums[40] 6
UK Official Independent Album Breakers[40] 1
UK Official Folk Albums[41] 3
Scotland Official Albums[42] 2

Accolades

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References

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  1. ↑ "CONSTANT FOLLOWER songs and albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 4 April 2025". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Official Folk Albums Chart, March 2025". English Folk Expo. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You". The SAY Award. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You — credits". Bandcamp. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Dandy Sounds". Discogs. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You — SAY Award entry". The SAY Award. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Constant Follower Conjures Harsh Beauty On 'The Smile You Send Out Returns to You'". Clash. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Album reviews: Doves | Constant Follower | Red Sky July". The Scotsman. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Premiere: Constant Follower Share New Single "Whole Be"". Under the Radar. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Constant Follower — The Smile You Send Out Returns to You". Various Small Flames. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You — credits". Bandcamp. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Wee oval study - "Thin Skinned Boy"". Instagram. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "'The Thin-Skinned Boy' — exhibition reel". Instagram. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You — product page". Last Night From Glasgow. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You — Bandcamp". Bandcamp. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  17. ↑ "Merch — Thin-skinned pink and pearly-white vinyl listings". Bandcamp. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "Premiere: Constant Follower Share New Single "Whole Be"". Under the Radar. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "Constant Follower – All Is Well (single)". Triste. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "Constant Follower share video for 'Almost Time To Go'". KLOF Mag. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "Watch: Constant Follower – Patient Has Own Supply". KLOF Mag. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  22. ↑ "Constant Follower – Whole Be (Official Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  23. ↑ "Constant Follower 'Whole Be' video". Various Small Flames. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  24. ↑ "Constant Follower – All Is Well (single)". Triste. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  25. ↑ "Constant Follower — All Is Well (official video)". Kris Boyle. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  26. ↑ "Constant Follower - Almost Time To Go (Official Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  27. ↑ "Watch: Constant Follower – Patient Has Own Supply". KLOF Mag. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  28. ↑ "Constant Follower - It's Only Silence (Official Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  29. ↑ "Constant Follower Conjures Harsh Beauty On 'The Smile You Send Out Returns to You'". Clash. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  30. ↑ "Album reviews: Doves | Constant Follower | Red Sky July". The Scotsman. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  31. ↑ "Constant Follower — The Smile You Send Out Returns to You". Various Small Flames. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  32. ↑ "Constant Follower — The Smile You Send Out Returns to You". God Is In The TV. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  33. ↑ "Premiere: Constant Follower Share New Single "Whole Be"". Under the Radar. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  34. ↑ "Artist page: Constant Follower — premieres". Under the Radar. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  35. ↑ "Album Review: Constant Follower – The Smile You Send Out Returns to You". Backseat Mafia. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  36. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You — Bandcamp". Bandcamp. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  37. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You — credits". Bandcamp. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  38. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You — Monorail listing". Monorail Music. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  39. ↑ "CONSTANT FOLLOWER songs and albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  40. 1 2 3 4 "CONSTANT FOLLOWER". Official Charts. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  41. ↑ "Official Folk Albums Chart, March 2025". English Folk Expo. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  42. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 4 April 2025". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  43. ↑ "The Smile You Send Out Returns to You". The SAY Award. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
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