Smith's notable guitar work was first heard on the first Cure single "Killing An Arab" which was released in Dec. 1978, where Smith performed an intricate Middle Eastern sounding descending and ascending guitar riff to accompany the song, as well as the B-side , where Smith played the heavily-distorted 'tremolo bar' solo that's featured in the song. Smith would soon expand on his guitar style further with The Cure's second album Seventeen Seconds, notably on the single "A Forest", where Smith played an extended solo-outro on his Jazzmaster, as well as the single 'Play For Today', where Smith demonstrated an intricate use of harmonics.