The Noise Who Runs - New York To L.A. In 2-And-A-Half Minutes single

The Noise Who Runs presents their latest single 'New York To L.A. In 2-And-A-Half Minutes', with its bleak but beautiful view. Its siren-like synth, pulsing bass riff and crackling drums underline the urgency of rhythmic energy, which contrasts with the bittersweet "be careful what you wish for" melancholy expressed in the melody and vocals. Here, the speed of travel is symbolic as the sign of progress that, like so many technologies, save us time at the expense of experience, possibilities and chance.

This is one of 14 tracks found on the duo's new ‘Preteretrospective’ album, the brainchild of Ian Pickering (of Sneaker Pimps and Front Line Assembly), who also co-authored such hits as 'Spin Spin Sugar', '6 Underground' and 'Tesko Suicide'. Upon relocating from northern England to France, Pickering formed The Noise Who Runs with Brazilian-French guitarist Felipe Goes.

This latest single was inspired by commentary by one of the scientists involved in the space probe observing the sun. Pickering says, “That line - ‘New York to L.A. in 2-and-a-half minutes’ - instantly just starts painting pictures of an insane future, good or bad, at a certain cost, which is now too much, gone too far, that maybe what matters is not just everything that we take for granted, but more everything that we’re always complaining and bellyaching about. From that line, it pretty much all fell together.”

"The opening line "to be the death of kings in words" partly alludes to the Biggie and Tupac story, which perhaps best sums up the iconic stature of the two cities embodying the very best and the worst of US culture, which have largely defined most of the 20th Century (from music and movies to technological and scientific breakthroughs). After that, it examines the relationship between a future where travel is all but instantaneous and the very human thing at stake in no longer having to make the journey."

"Ian Pickering is among the most relevant songwriters of this generation, with topical subject matter, sharp lyricism, a relatable attitude and music that is addictive as F*&@. The same spunk that the progenitors of punk and orderly chaos of early post-punk were made of" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Beguiling... anthemic yet accessible, gothic, grand and graceful, delicately dance-driven and dark, coiled and ornate, slow and seductive" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Poetic brutality... the anthemic grace and stature of something by The Sisters of Mercy: it has an Arctic chill through which a lyrical, passionate heat radiates" ~ Backseat Mafia

"Ethereal electronic intimation. Light and dark entangle... true splendour and prowess" ~ Ringmaster Review