Been there, done that, got the plain black t-shirt. Still in his twenties, Joe Carnall has been making music for over a decade. And not just bedroom ballads to be sung in the backroom of the local pub either. Having fronted local cult heroes Milburn as well as currently performing and writing for Reverend and the Makers, this modest melody maker has pedigree. But the past is a foreign country and, whilst it’s nice to visit every now and again, that old bottle of nostalgia is better left on the top shelf for when the in-laws visit at Christmas. No, Carnall is a proper song writer; always trying to write the next tune in a new way. And here’s the best bit, his debut solo material feels as contemporary as anything he’s ever done. The six string has taken on a more supportive role and it’s now the processed second cousins which take centre stage (see debut ‘Three Things’). There’s no gimmick though. As ever, the whole project is underpinned by something that’s been an ever present: melodies and lyrics that will haunt you like a friendly ghost. Whilst there’s something to be said for tried and tested formulas, there’s perhaps even more for rolling stones and moss. Time to open a new bottle.
