The Shop Window’s 7-inch jangle-fest

 By Henry Lipput

England’s The Shop Window is one of the jangliest bands going right now. This four piece from Maidstone is about to release their second album, A Four-Letter Word, later this summer (the first, The State of Being Human, was one of my favorites of 2021) and have already put out two singles as a teaser for the new album. Like the singles last year, the third single, the double A-side “Eyes Wide Shut/Low” (Spinout Nuggets/Bandcamp) is the one being made available on vinyl and proof, if any is necessary, that the independent label Spinout Nuggets is keeping the 7” single alive.

Made up of long-time mates, the band’s first single, “Signpost,” saw the light of day in 2019. As excellent as their first album was (and still is), at the recording sessions for A Four-Letter Word last summer it was no doubt clear to The Shop Window that they were on to something above and beyond what had been produced so far.

This is abundantly clear with the new single.  “Eyes Wide Shut” is a blast in terms of sound and structure. Carl Mann wields his guitar like a Sir Chimes-A-Lot with a double-bladed axe, the rhythm section of Martin Corder on bass and Phil Elphee on drums is front and center in the mix, and the keyboarding of Syd Oxlee adds heft to the mixture. In addition, the dual vocals of Mann and Oxlee are a trademark of the band’s sound. And – wait for it – at 2:33, after a cool, calming synth wash, the band builds to an amazing freak out. You don’t want to miss that.

Backing vocals on both “Eyes Wide Shut” and “Low” is provided by their Spinout Nuggets label mate Beth Arzy of Jetstream Pony and The Luxembourg Signal. “Low” is another gem of a tune, this time beginning with a piano riff and a bit of a jangle, leading into a moody soundscape. Like the “Lighthouse” single from earlier this year, despite “Low’’s sense of being down and struggling, the support of a partner can be a saving grace. For both songs the theme might be where there’s love, there’s hope.