The Shins: New Slang

It’s blue… no really it’s see-through and bright blue; the vinyl that is! I'd already fallen in love/ head over heels/ arse over tit for this band, before I even clamped eyes upon the single. A 30 second taster clip was more than enough evidence for me. Proving that this band are something else, something different, they seem to be playing on a whole new frequency… a frequency that my mind can easily tune into… and one with little interference. The fact that it’s bright blue (my favourite colour!) and see-through, well that’s just an added bonus!

‘New Slang’, there’s only one real way to sum up this gorgeous little song, it’s pure sunshine squeezed into around 4 minutes of light acoustic tittering. Fading in with the jingling of bells and buoyantly strummed guitar patterns laid over a summer-like vocal back grounding, the verses are tender to the point of relaxation. All through the vocals are soft, gentle luring you into their caressing embrace, soothing yet equally moving. The track is perfectly rounded off with the fading out of the almost surrealistic sounds… leading into an heartbeat-esque drum beat that like the song, penetrates right through your skin and beyond. Imagine a cool summer breeze whilst laying on sweet smelling newly cut grass… this is the soundtrack for such a moment.

The b-side, ‘Sphagnum Esplanade’ is equally laid back with its blend of harmonies, guitar meanderings and a deep, soul shaking bass tone, the focus on this track leans towards utopian surrealism. Interest is added in the latter stages with a whole host of varying sounds, each complimenting the light undulating vocals forcing you to re-listen again and again just so you can uncover a little bit more each time. What appears to be a simple track on first hearing does in fact turn into a veritable treasure trove of sounds and emotions. A track so light, it floats around and encircles your mind, encompassing every thought process in its path, turning your attention away from reality and into its own dream-like world. Just sit back and listen… let the song do the rest.

Quite frankly everyone should find a space somewhere in their record collection for this gorgeous slice of summertime surrealism, it really is a single that can brighten even the dullest of days.