Edinburgh duo No Windows are multi-instrumentalist Morgan Morris and lyricist Verity Slangen. Formed in 2020, Verity and Morgan began writing their own songs when the pandemic struck, with Verity singing and handling lyrics and Morgan “locked away in my bedroom, trying to make stuff that sounded like [slowcore band] Duster.” No Windows have two EPs released to date, their debut Fishboy (2023) combining warm and fuzzy Duster-style soundscapes with lo-fi experimentation, and follow up Point Nemo EP (2024), named after the most isolated location on Earth, which explored themes of loneliness and alienation while refining their atmospheric indie pop blend. In 2024, they signed to Fat Possum records at 18 and 19-years-old respectively, with just one self-released EP to their name.
They now release their new EP The Great Traitor via Fat Possum Records, produced with Ali Chant (Dry Cleaning, Sorry, Yard Act). The recording process took them out of Morgan’s DIY bedroom set-up and into a studio, where they had access to a breadth of instruments that allowed for more exploration across the EPs six tracks.
Opener ‘Brown Bear’ explores the uncertainty of developing feelings for someone new, with Verity’s vocals dancing over an instrumental that mingles melody with dissonance. The broader instrumentation palette is immediately obvious on this first track with a smooth trumpet layer adding a gorgeous depth to the overall sound. Verity’s vocals have matured hugely since the first two EPs, its emotive range impossible to ignore.
Lead single ‘Return’ is written from the perspective of Verity at 16 years old, understanding her autism, always feeling awkward and out of place at school. Unsurprisingly it is an intensely personal song, with a disarming honesty: “I can’t fit into your space / Mould me into the girl you want to see.” There is a deftness on ‘Return’, the internal ruminations driving the rhythm of the song, not beholden to an expected structure.
Current single‘Tricky’ captures the sensation of swooning. One of the gentlest tracks on The Great Traitor, the guitar riffs are crystal clear, and allow Verity’s vocal to dominate. The clarity is breathtaking, with every single syllable heard. The instrumentation on the outro almost leaves the listener hanging, the end seems to arrive too soon. The opening lyrics of‘Sugarcoat’ made me chuckle. Definitely not sugarcoated at all! The listener will have to play the track to understand, no spoiler alerts here. ‘Sugarcoat’ is a highlight on The Great Traitor. It finds Verity shaking off the dissolution of a relationship, indeed there are signs of defiance and a growing self-confidence on ‘Sugarcoat’ which oozes from both the lyrics and the music.
This third EP by No Windows ebbs and flows within its delicate pacing and soundscape. The duo both sing on ‘Old Chain Pier’ , a thoughtful reflective track in which the trumpets make a welcome return, this time more forthright and demonstrative. It is impossible to not refer to Verity’s vocal once again. The opening verse is heartfelt and loaded with emotion – breathtaking. The final track ‘Easter Island’ has both members of No Windows sing throughout. They are accompanied by a crisp guitar, although towards the end there is a hint of experimentation the instrument not quite decipherable, which of course is the artists prerogative and only adds to the overall delight in The Great Traitor.
For more information on No Windows please check their instagram and tiktok.
