7/10

Since releasing their heavily-prasied sophomore album 'Why Choose?' back in 2015, London-based trio Shopping have been on a near-constant run of shows as well as writing new music ever since. But while on tour, the band found that their usual hideouts were closing down all over the city with gentrification moving in. This has become the inspiration for their third studio album 'The Official Body', a record that works with the idea of society weeding out unpleasant aspects about itself, but ultimately remaining a slave to those in power.

Much like their previous releases, 'The Official Body' keeps it heart close to the DIY sound. Adopting a very minimal direction throughout, the band look to create a record that hasn't so much as moved on musically from their previous records, but one that shows a more mature attitude in how it wants to be perceived. This new LP aims to be the avid frustration of London life, conveying not only the annoyance of an ever-changing environment, but also giving us a snapshot of exactly how people try and live in the city.

As far as social commentary goes, this record fits very much in the style of what The Clash tried back in the 1970s. And while we think we have moved on, it is clear that Shopping have managed to tap into that same place once again and delivered a release that best reflects their own personal sense of sorrow and grief in today's capital.