Shapes Like People - Ticking Haze (2025) Hi-Res

Shapes Like People have caught my ear since the middle of last year, producing four captivating singles going back to July’s Fireworks.

With Shapes, the husband-and-wife duo, Carl and Kat Mann, have crafted rich, light, and lush jangle-pop with an Americana, shoegaze twist. The crazy thing is this project came about purely by accident. Carl had written some demos that didn’t fit into the TSW framework that he envisioned pitching to other artists. He needed a female guide vocal and asked Kat to sing. But as they worked together, he became possessive. I can hear why. “Don’t Hear Your Footsteps”, the first song Carl shared with me, is a potent, moody gem. As you’ll hear for yourself, Kat’s vocals are so much more than a guide.

Carl reflects “It’s been an incredibly fun journey making this album with Kat. She has repeatedly surprised me with her gorgeous vocals and her pitch is excellent. It made the job of producing the album a lot easier. I would initially write the songs in a lower key and get the vocals down, then we would experiment on new keys for Kat to sing and find a sweet spot for her voice. It dawned on me recently while listening back to the album that ‘Ticking Haze’ is very much about the passing of time and how we got to where we are now. This wasn’t a conscious decision; it’s just how it naturally unfolded.”

Kat notes that “Laying down vocals for the first demos was nothing short of terrifying. Carl put up with me running back and forth to the studio on lunch breaks to practice, no doubt cringing at the regular incorrect notes/timing/lyrics, and the frequent cursing that followed. It’s a good thing he has the patience of a saint, particularly with three part harmonies that further complicated the process. By the time we went to record the final takes I’d found my comfort zone, and stopped caring about the little imperfections that he calls ‘character’. It was an absolute blast, although I still hate having a camera in my face for all the necessary video content that comes with it!”

When The Radio Plays is a crisp pop confection. Interestingly Kat notes that ‘Radio’ was the one track SLP considered dropping from the album. But after a few friends they trust gave a thumbs up, they reconsidered.

Third single, “A New Crown” is a beaut. The dreamy, waltzy rhythm, strummed on acoustic guitars, is just so captivating. It’s pristine pop, gloriously reminiscent of The Church.

The final single, “Ambition Is Your Friend”, released in January ’25, leads off the new LP with a spark. Harmonies are high in the mix, and I love how the chorus kicks in right away, with verses to follow. Stumming acoustics, twangy electrics, and a shimmering tambourine set the tone.

“Never Cut Asunder” is another standout track. Kat seems to channel the late, great Kirsty MacColl, with Carl harmonizing. “World Keeps Spinning” closes the album perfectly. The slow burn builds up and the duo do a great job of keeping the melody rich without getting lost in a myriad of unnecessary sound effects. Yet little touches like the sound of a solo oboe add a Baroque depth without condescension.

All in all, “Ticking Haze” is a superlative jangle-pop document and it’s one of these records you may be hard-pressed to find others talking about, but that should have a wealth of happy fans. Dig in!