Review: Lay Back by This Window – A Journey in Shadows and Light

The video for Lay Back unfolds like a short, self-contained noir film set within the opulent, time-suspended dining car of the Orient Express.

In striking counterpoint to the film noir narrative it fractures into moments of warmth: a woman, smiling and happy. These scenes arrive like sunlight breaking through a stormed sky, their emotional clarity heightened by the claustrophobic gloom that surrounds them. Her perspective feels like the true voice of the song — the lyrics, when paired with her gaze, take on a tone of reflection, perhaps even quiet defiance. By the end of this three minute video, the viewer is left with the impression that the song’s emotional truth belongs to her, not him.

Visually, the piece thrives on texture: the grainy 8mm home movie feel, the muted glow of the table lamp, the rhythmic sway of the train, which feels like it is following the beat. It’s a world where every surface seems to hold a memory, and every glance could be a clue. The noir influence is unmistakable, but it’s the interplay between shadow and light — suspicion and tenderness — that gives Lay Back its lingering power.