Eric Sabatino’s Rayon is coming back with the “Shopping” single. The Portland post-punk outfit gives us a wonderfully odd single – the kind of track that immediately stands out, because it refuses to play it safe. Built on sharp, angular guitar lines and a jumpy post-punk rhythm, the song moves with a nervous energy that perfectly matches its theme. It’s a tongue-in-cheek look at consumerism, travel and the strange habits we fall into when life gets overwhelming, but it delivers all this with humour rather than preaching. What really makes “Shopping” shine is its raw, handmade sound. Recorded on old reel-to-reel tape machines in a garage packed with half-working gear, the song has a warm, gritty texture that you just don’t get from polished studio productions. The slightly wobbly tape echo, the rough edges, the imperfections — they all add character and make the track feel human. You can sense that Rayon is having fun while also pushing through burnout and rediscovering their spark. Eric Sabatino’s vocals bring a playful coolness to the track, floating over the restless groove while the guitars stab and twist around him. The mood is both chaotic and catchy, giving the feeling of wandering through a supermarket in a daze, picking up things you don’t need while your mind races somewhere else. It’s witty, relatable and uplifting. “Shopping” is a little slice of Rayon’s identity. It captures their no-wave roots, their love for imperfections and their renewed energy as a band. With its quirky charm and offbeat attitude, this track shows that Rayon is at their best when they embrace the weirdness.
♦ 8/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
