It’s a joy

By Henry Lipput

“It’s A High” (Bandcamp) is the latest single from The Shop Window and it’s a sunny, jangle pop delight. Songwriters Carl Mann and Syd Oxlee have crafted yet again another wonderful song that is a joy to listen to. “It’s A High” employs the sun and clouds as metaphors for how the light from a loved one’s eyes can make life so much better: “When I’m feeling down/Your light of day just washes over me/A sun within a cloud.”

The line-up for The Shop Window continues to be Mann on vocals and guitar, Oxlee also on vocals, Martin Corder on bass, and Phil Elphee on drums. They are now joined by Paul Reeves on guitar, saxophones, and assorted instruments; Reeves became part of the band when The Shop Window toured behind their last album A 4 Letter Word after it became too difficult for Mann to play two guitars at the same time (and you just know he tried to do it).

“It’s A High” is also the lead-off single from The Shop Window’s next album Daysdream out next year. It’s a two-record event with the “Days” disc filled with summer jangle and the “Dream” disc full of melancholy melodies. Daysdream is the first album released on the band’s very own Jangle Pop Records, a very DIY affair, and you can preorder it here.