Edinburgh’s No Windows, the duo of multi-instrumentalist Morgan Morris and lyricist Verity Slangen, are building on their momentum with the announcement of their new EP, “The Great Traitor,” released via Fat Possum. This follows their critically acclaimed 2024 EP, Point Nemo, and a series of successful EU/UK tour dates, including performances at The Great Escape’s First Fifty and supporting Slow Pulp. Having earned the 2023 Sound of Young Scotland Award at the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Awards, the now 18 and 19-year-old musicians have rapidly ascended, signing with Fat Possum after only one self-released EP, Fishboy.
“The Great Traitor” marks a significant evolution in their sound, moving beyond their established atmospheric indie-pop. While retaining elements of warm, Duster-esque soundscapes and lo-fi experimentalism, the EP delves into lush, psychedelic arrangements, drawing inspiration from 70s chamber pop artists like George Harrison and Leonard Cohen, as well as film score composer Jon Brion, known for “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Produced with Ali Chant (Dry Cleaning, Sorry, Yard Act), the recording process transitioned from Morris’s bedroom setup to a professional studio, allowing for greater exploration with a wider range of instruments across the EP’s six tracks.
Lead single “Return” serves as a bridge from the “Point Nemo” era, blending 90s alt-rock with pastoral indie influences. The track, written from Verity’s perspective as a 16-year-old navigating autism and feelings of social alienation, progresses from dark, dissonant tones to a more delicate, sunlit atmosphere, mirroring a journey through a dense forest into an open clearing. The lyrics, “I can’t fit into your space / Mould me into the girl you want to see,” are delivered with a newfound confidence, reflecting Verity’s personal growth.
CLUMP Collective directed a dark, anxious video for “Return,” featuring the duo’s frantic search through a woodland cabin. The visuals emphasise their growing connection amid an unfulfilled quest, mirroring the song’s themes.
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