‘Running Away With The Circus’ is a song about the relentless nature of being an adult in the 21st century and underlines the necessity to step away from the world regularly to preserve one’s sanity. Musically, Carnall delivers a Bernard Sumner-inspired top line over a beat akin to LCD Soundsystem. The song is a perfect representation of Welcome To The Marble Zone, highlighting the inspired use of much of the sonic palette, with influences ranging from Kraftwerk to Baxter Dury.
Expanding on Welcome To The Marble Zone’s sonic palette, Carnall added: “ Over the past few years, I’ve been intrigued by the soundclash of guitars and electronic music, as I found myself listening to a lot of New Order whilst writing the record. Aside from the obvious ‘hooky’ bass lines and 808-inspired drums, I became a little obsessed with Bernard Sumner’s vocal melodies and deliveries, which is abundantly clear on ‘Running Away With The Circus’.“
The brainchild of Joe Carnall Jnr, Good Cop Bad Cop will lift the curtain on their new LP Welcome To The Marble Zone, the follow-up to 2019’s self-titled release from Sheffield’s finest, on 5th April 2024. A melding of minds, Carnell and producer Gold Teeth have assembled a collection of playful edits, hip-hop leanings, and the songwriting of an artist at the peak of their powers. Working separately together, Carnall gave Gold Teeth free rein to be creative, whilst Joe played “everything that doesn’t involve sticks“. Welcome To The Marble Zone is a treasury of diary entries from a thirty-something man who has gone from knowing everything to nothing at all: “ This album is the most personal thing I’ve ever written. It maps my life over the past three years: fatherhood, memories, songwriting, teaching, death… and more fatherhood.“
The long-time darling of the Sheffield music scene, Carnall rose to prominence as the frontman of 00s indie band Milburn, who have enjoyed an incredible resurgence since their return six years ago. However, not being one to look back, Carnall began writing what would become Good Cop Bad Cop’s debut offering in 2018 and recorded the album in Los Angeles, USA. Although 2024’s follow-up was put together closer to home, the guitars were left in their cases for the most part, with Carnall and Gold Teeth (Andy Nicholson) opting to push the synth and hip-hop undertones further. The result somehow sounds like both ” then and now“.
‘Running Away With The Circus‘ will be released via Count To Ten Records on 2nd February 2024, the latest single from the upcoming sophomore record Welcome To The Marble Zone set for release on 5th April 2024. Pre-save the album HERE!
