The Shop Window return with their delightful and beautiful second album, full of relatable themes including love and friendship.
The Shop Window, or The Shoppies to their ever growing fan base, formed in 2018 when Carl and Syd (formerly of 90s band Westpier and label mates of Sleeper) reunited, when Karl returned to live in Kent after living overseas, with Phil and Martin joining to complete the line up. Their first release was on Bandcamp in 2019, which was followed up with several singles on 7” vinyl, award winning videos and their outstanding debut album The State of Being Human. 2022 has been a busy and productive year for the 4-piece, with the release of two further singles, both of which feature on the new album.
A 4 Letter Word has been ready for several months, but like many in the industry, having confirmation as to when the vinyl would be ready has proved to be difficult and has unfortunately put the release date back. However, this has worked out perfectly for the band, as it means all the focus will be on this majestic album in the lead up to Christmas and make for a perfect Christmas present!
Label mate Beth Arzy from Jetstream Pony and The Luxembourg Signal added backing vocals to four of the tracks (Eyes Wide Shut, Dancing Light, Circles Go Round & Low).
So what’s it all about? Here’s our track by track preview.
Eyes Wide Shut was the bands most recent single and has a catchy uplifting melody, glorious harmonies and crisp jangly guitars. The song possesses several key changes, most notably ahead of the final chorus, which sees the song stripped back to a banging drum beat and atmospheric guitars that slowly build before a fuzzy distorted-ness of a guitar solo, that pins the song firmly to the Brit-Jangly-Pop mast. A great start to the album.
With Love To Lead tells the tale of Kings, Princes and Knights undertaking various quests to win over a Maiden. The bass riff is glorious and really drives the entirety of the track.
The Lay Of The Land was released back in November 2021 as a preview of the second album. The Shoppies drift into the world of psychedelic on this anthemic track, borrowing references from Alice in Wonderland “Time will take its toll down the rabbit hole”. This track is full of memorable guitar hooks and a killer chorus that really focuses of the theme of the album, Love
“All the while there’s stars above, I will fall out with love it’s the meaning of life, it’s just the lay of the land, futures shaped in our hands, it’s the meaning of life”
Dancing Light is a really tender song and is jangly guitar work at its finest. The greatest compliment I can give this song is that it would have fitted in perfectly with a Smiths record. The chorus is really emotive and gives you a great insight into The Shop Window.
It’s By Design has a great upbeat tempo and explores how relationships are formed; be it fate or chance. Throughout the track the musical tightness of the band is evident, which really comes to the fore in the middle 8 and makes for another extremely catchy track. This has all the credentials for a single release.
Circles Go Round has a big Smiths sound and moves between speeds with ease which makes for a really exciting listen. Lyrically, the song explores Carl and Syd reuniting as band members and writing/recording new music together:
“Jump start the heart again, sit back and ride the wave… Years roll by, let this define us”.
Lighthouse is what The Shop Window best: It’s warm, jangly and is a gem of single that takes influence from early 90s R.E.M and Teenage Fan Club. The track has a great catchy melody, brilliant harmonies and lyrics that will be relatable to many. The song is about waking up and being full of anxiety and self-doubt. However, by having the support of a loved one (in this case Carl’s wife), can support you through the dark and tough times to safety and firm ground.
“Lighthouse of hope, sending a beacon to my call”
That Feeling is a fantastic indie pop song, that you will be playing on repeat thanks to the shimmering guitar hooks. The chorus proclaims “When I get That Feeling I’m alive” which can be put to any time and situation and is a line that offers hope.
Maid Of Stone is another catchy and uplifting tune, which reflects on past memories, possibly of childhood and growing up surrounded by love. For me this is another song that could quite easily be released as a single.
Low is a majestic song and is a great way to finish off the album. There’s a hint of Blur ballads in the song’s composition. The frustration and weariness of the Covid lockdowns is the overriding theme of the song which is captured in the lyric
“A year disappeared, frozen in time, never get it back, Mother Nature’s crime”
The song really builds and progresses from a song of disappointment and frustration with people in leadership positions, before climaxing in the albums theme and if you hadn’t already guessed, what the 4 letter word is… Love.
A 4 Letter Word is a superb and perfectly constructed album, with great songs from start to finish and is the bands best body of work to date.
A 4 Letter word is released on vinyl/cd on Friday 25th November and can be ordered here. The album will be released on all streaming and digital platforms on Friday 2nd November, on Spinout Nuggets records.
ThisIsTheMusic 
Leave a comment