'Carousel' is a unique and intimate look at the emotional challenges faced when becoming a father, a search for new identity and an examination of what you need to surrender in order to change. Guy Connelly, Clock Opera's lead singer, found that the profound life changes accompanying parenthood transformed his writing process. Huge questions dominated and called him to account. How do you adapt to a fundamental shift in your place in the world? How do you accept a loss of control when every instinct tries to retain it? Learning to deprioritise and surrender yourself to what you need to become. History repeating, becoming your parents, inhabiting a body that you don't recognise as your own. Admitting you've been wrong and the need to transform.
Inspired by sci-fi soundtracks (Jóhann Jóhannsson, Jerry Goldsmith, Mica Levi), experimental theatre scores, unpredictable electronica & futuristic pop, 'Carousel' was self-produced at their South London studios. Drawing from the deep artistic wells of Shawn Everett, Homogenic by Bjork, Roy Orbison and ambient Eno recordings, the album was written in a sequence of intensive bursts in hideaways from Peckham to LA. Nic Nell's wild synth improvisations, driven through a collection of idiosyncratic 80's delays became a huge part of the 'Carousel' sound, drawing from the experimental electronic palette of his Casually Here recordings. As ever, Che Albrighton's furiously energetic drums power the whole operation relentlessly to ist target, with spontaneous detail and featherlight touch.