Manchester trio Shaking Hand’s debut record is the sonic pursuit of beauty and hope within the monotony of life.
Release date: January 16, 2026 | Melodic Records | Bandcamp | Instagram
I have to confess that before spinning this record for the first time, I had no prior knowledge of Shaking Hand, their history or their previous output. It was a pleasant surprise to realize I had stumbled upon them just as they were preparing to drop their debut album. To my knowledge, they had only released a single track last year, the promising “Over The Coals”.
Shaking Hand is a trio hailing from Manchester, and they have chosen to dedicate this self-titled debut to their hometown. What they have crafted is a masterful sonic exploration of the suburbs, where aging red-brick houses meet the sharp lines of modern redevelopment. Drawing deep inspiration from these surroundings, their brand of indie rock perfectly encapsulates the beauty and hope hidden within the monotony of domestic life. Much like the influences they draw from, the record is centered around a truly remarkable guitar tone that immediately made me feel fuzzy and cozy inside. This is a definitive production win: the band captures a specific kind of warmth that persists through every movement, including the more pensive, atmospheric stretches of isolation.
While there are clear influences here, Shaking Hand has managed to establish a signature style built on a foundation of ‘spidery’ chords and a pervasive sense of fragility. Listening to it feels like walking through a quiet city at night, not necessarily Manchester in my case, as I have sadly never visited, but the sensation of urban solitude is universal. This tension is anchored by incredible musicianship that creates a safe, structured space for the ‘hazy’ atmosphere to breathe. A particularly impactful moment occurs on the track “In For A Pound”, where the drumming takes center stage. Its complex, driving energy cutting through the saw-toothed riffs is nothing short of spectacular.
The band seamlessly navigates a blend of indie, grunge, Midwest emo, and post-rock, with recognizable nods to the stark tension of Slint, the urgency of Sonic Youth, and the organic warmth of Yo La Tengo. Crucially, these influences never feel intrusive or derivative. Instead, they ensure the record remains consistent, earwormy, and accessible without ever sacrificing its experimental edge or structural integrity.
Floating above this intricate instrumentation are soothing vocals that bring a sense of calm to the album’s frequent stop-start rhythms. There is a profound nostalgia woven into these vocal melodies, particularly on the standout track “Italics”. The chorus evokes the spirit of 90s and early 2000s rock in a way that feels both fresh and deeply familiar. The lyrics, meanwhile, are abstract yet intensely human, tackling the universal struggle to stay inspired in dull environments.
Upon multiple listens, I’ve realized that Shaking Hand isn’t interested in escapism. They are interested in reinvention. They seek out the hidden colors and brightness buried within the gray of the suburban experience. By the time the final notes ring out on “The Cable Ties”, it feels as though you’ve just finished listening to the definitive soundtrack for the mundane. They have brilliantly transformed the repetition of daily life into something hypnotic, meaningful, and, most of all, hopeful. I highly recommend listening to this on headphones, outdoors, while letting your gaze wander.
