GHOST COP’s second full length, TROUBLE, is a conceptual follow-up to their 2020 release. The album takes the idea of a speculative film score and transforms it into a fully immersive darkwave soundtrack. Released on their own Observed Phenomena label, TROUBLE evolves the duo's sound, blending catharsis with electronic intensity.
“In the past, I’ve written about concepts, things, always at a remove,” explains vocalist and songwriter Lucy Swope. “There’s an incredible amount of second person in my writing. For the first time, I’m leaning into my own experiences with mental illness, depression, and neurodivergence.
“At first listen, they sound like dark dance songs, but there’s actually quite a bit of soul-bearing embedded within. Of course, still with a level of abstraction, encryption, and obliqueness. Can’t give everything away.”
The duo's own Sean Dack says he was inspired from early Autechre: "While coming after END CREDITS, we realized that we could implement soundtrack type elements into song-based structures and do so in a way that didn't feel overbearing or need visuals to tell the complete story."
As a whole, TROUBLE brings forward the seductive allure of a dangerous film, where surrendering to the darkness seems inevitable. The album is founded on pulsing beats with enchanting vocals, creating an all around vivid sound.
The record's title track stands out as a driving force, brimming with propulsive rhythms and a brooding energy. Expressive and cinematic, the single exhibits the band’s signature fusion of post punk, darkwave synthpop, and new wave, offering a powerful, picturesque glimpse into the album’s overall aesthetic.
ZR