“Crown” is perfectly dreamy and lulling from the get-go. The waltzy rhythm, strummed by husband and wife Carl and Kat Mann on acoustic guitars, is just so captivating. Carl’s electric guitar part kicks in right away and with modest percussion and bass the stage set is gloriously reminiscent of some of the best songs by The Church.
Shapes Like People have been grabbing my attention for some time, and prior singles “When The Radio Plays” and “Fireworks” are worth checking out. Now they’re back with “A New Crown”, the third single from the forthcoming LP ”Ticking Haze” out in March ‘25.
Kat’s vocals fit the music so well and it’s hard to imagine this project began with Carl hoping to write some songs for other artists, utilizing Kat’s voice only as a guide on demos. Boy, we’re all so much the better off for SLP to stay in the family built upon a full album of strong material.
“Crown” features the duo’s signature harmonies and jangling guitars, and somehow amalgamates an unusual blend of Americana, jangle-pop, and shoegaze. I especially love the cadence of this tune. It’s light and fresh, but Kat’s vocal colors it with a welcome dollop of longing to balance out an otherwise overly sweet melody.
Lyrically, that longing is crystalized further. Carl and Kat harmonize with conviction, “Gonna find a new crown | Somewhere in the country.” They note that “Crown” was “inspired by a friend looking to make a move out of London, potentially to the countryside. We’ve both spent years in larger cities, but grew up in the sticks. Having a child really cemented our desire to live a quieter life, and we have ended up in an idyllic Wiltshire village as a result. As much as we loved our younger years in the big smoke, we’re grateful for the beautiful little community we’re now a part of. Our kids build forts in the woods and swim in the rivers, and we’re hoping to keep them naive to the big world for just a little longer.”
Geez, I think I need to move here myself. Sounds idyllic.
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