Shaw's Trailer Park - Shaw's Trailer Park

​Shaw's Trailer Park

Shaw's Trailer Park
​self-released; 2022

3.9 out of 5

By Dino DiMuro

The psychedelic garage rock band Shaw’s Trailer Park of South UK has just released its debut self-titled album Shaw’s Trailer Park, which they describe as “a mix of garage grooves and psych guitar putting the trash BACK in The Park!” After starting the band in 2021, they booked a studio in the summer of 2022 and recorded this album in one afternoon!

The band members are Tim Sanpher (vocals/guitar), Simon Smith (guitar), Sam Ireland (vocals), Mark Wilson (bass) and Andy Tipton (drums). The band says these songs are “straight guitar, bass and drums played live. Only the vocals are overdubbed. (The album) draws on the band’s communal love of USA garage rock as well as psychedelia and krautrock.” Though they’d rather not pigeonhole their influences, common points of reference among the members are the Stooges, the Velvet Underground and the Nuggets bands. Individual players have embraced zombie country, ’90s alternative, punk, folk and jazz.

Recording and mastering took place at Ali Gavan’s Brighton Road Recording Studios, “a lovely old converted barn complex in the Sussex countryside.”

“Don’t Do That” roars in with what sounds like a three-guitar attack, thanks to the hyper aggression of Sanpher and Smith’s slashing chords and Wilson’s hardcore bass. Technically this is straight-ahead three chord rock, with multiple overdubbed vocals barely peeking out over the sonic barrage. The short guitar solo is totally nasty, fuzzing and warbling like an old Quicksilver track. The lyrics become an amusing list of all the things the lead singer doesn’t want you to do.

“Memory” slows the tempo a bit while increasing the riffs’ heaviness quotient. The song appears to touch on imagery from “The Wizard of Oz” and features harmonies that recall Jack Bruce of Cream. Another snake-like lead solo underscores the Cream connection, along with a short section emphasizing the bass guitar. “The Answer” has more of a blues swing and some added twang to the guitars, and the vocals are a bit  clearer, with an uncredited duet with a female singer hashing over what sounds like a singularly unpleasant relationship.

“Queen of the Class” has the simplicity and drive of an early Who single, with the lead vocal pretty much in Roger Daltrey’s range. Chalk up another totally untethered fuzz lead solo! Lots of vocals here, again featuring a female singer (unless it’s one of the guys with pitch control).

“Restraint” is a six-minute psychedelic epic that sounds like it’s got acoustic guitar in the mix. The vocals are fed through a tremolo setting, along with the guitars, resulting in a pretty head-trip mix. Here’s a track that does seem to owe a bit to the “Nuggets” bands, and maybe early Velvets. The two guitarists trade leads, which brings a nice variety within the thick morass of sound.

“House Without Love” has a chugging riff like the Stones’ “Not Fade Away” with vocals a bit like Warren Zevon (and I’m sure this is a song he’d love to play!). I dig the tribal drums and percolating guitar riffs, with some high-on-the-neck voicing worthy of Pete Townshend. “She’s Alright” has a pinched tone to the bass and guitars, with an insistent, catchy riff that’s like a synth pattern played on guitar. There’s also a killer chorus that’s so fast, you’ll miss it if you blink. I know I keep pushing The Who comparisons but this song has a very similar structure and energy to “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere.”

“Snakegirl” is the album’s seven-minute finale. It starts with a single, insistent note, over which both guitarists contribute fuzz and feedback improvisation. When the song proper kicks in, it turns out to be yet another blues construct, with elliptical riffing and lead vocals steeped in attitude and regret. “Searching for a hell of a girl / searching for my Snake Girl.” The length of the track gives the guitars plenty of time to stretch out in their final stretch. 

​Lovers of hard blues and psychedelia will recognize this band as kindred spirits, but their expert playing and high energy should easily attract listeners way beyond those genres. Great stuff!

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