Shopping have broken up. The UK post-punk trio hadn’t put out an album since 2020’s All or Nothing, but confirmed the news on Instagram last week. “After 13 years, Shopping is taking our last spin through the aisles,” the band wrote in a post on Friday, August 15. Today, they’ve also shared the new song “White Noise,” billed as their final single, with an accompanying video. Watch it below.
Formed in London, England in 2012, Shopping drew heavily from the classic post-punk of Mo-Dettes, Gang of Four, and Delta 5. The trio of guitarist Ray Aggs, bassist Billy Easter, and drummer Andrew Milk—all former members of the band Covergirl—first gained notoriety when their 2013 debut album, Consumer Complaints, was reissued by FatCat Records in 2015.
Though they repeatedly insisted that they were more interested in making people dance than offering political commentary, Shopping became known for their portrayals of queer alienation under capitalism. They shared the album Why Choose in 2015 and, in 2018, released The Official Body, which boasted a fuller sound and helped the band to reach international touring act status. Pitchfork named both The Official Body and All or Nothing as among the best rock albums of their respective years.
“This song and video are full of incredible memories, all made possible by the love and support of our fans,” Shopping wrote of “White Noise” on Instagram. “You’ve taken us far and wide on so many adventures, and we’re truly thankful for every single moment. It’s bittersweet, but mostly we feel grateful for you, our community, and for all the joy and noise we’ve made together. See you tomorrow 🫶”
Revisit Matthew James-Wilson’s feature “What It’s Like to Be Black in Indie Music.”
