The USA-based genre-bending band known for its mix of alt-rock, post-punk, and hauntingly introspective lyrics, June Cleaver And The Steak Knives, has released a new album, Short Tales Of Science Fiction And Family Dissonance. This new concept release explores the tension between science fiction's cold, distant worlds and the deeply human struggles of family dissonance, weaving these seemingly disparate themes into a powerful narrative about identity, isolation, and the longing for connection in a fractured world.
The album's opening track, "Insomnia", sets the tone with its ticking clocks and racing anxiety amidst lush, textural passages and musical interplay amidst a haunting melody that echoes the loneliness and despair of a horrible night's sleep. The dreary non-existence feeds the apprehension, conjured up through fears of the ever-enveloping technological breakthroughs and unknown side effects amidst the maddening clocks ticking and sinks' dripping. "Must Be Nice" combines upbeat, bass-driven prog rock with spaciously rich musical passages, acting as a backdrop to the battle against self-righteous, holier-than-thou, black-and-white smugness.
As the album progresses, songs like "Quarantined" and "You Don't Get It" explore the alienation felt within the confines of traditional family structures forced to exist together during a COVID lockdown and beyond, painting vivid sonic landscapes where misunderstandings and unspoken grievances eat away at any semblance of a possible personal utopia. But there's a glimmer of hope, too: tracks like "This Was The Future" and "John" offer moments of redemption through inspiration and higher hopes, albeit with a taste for absurdity, suggesting that a better world is possible trying to stay open to the wonder of it all. The album concludes with a song about the torment of dementia and the deterioration of one's psyche.
Short Tales Of Science Fiction And Family Dissonance blends dark comedy, science fiction, insanity, and a beautiful array of musical landscapes, with influences from bands such as The Beatles, Oingo Boingo, They Might Be Giants and Devo. Link
Short Tales Of Science Fiction And Family Dissonance tracklist:
01. Insomnia
02. Xray Glasses
03. Multitasking
04. With Her Eyes
05. Erase
06. Must Be Nice
07. You Don't Get It
08. Hands of a Working Man
09. Quarantined
10. The incredible Arse
11. Monochrome
12. This Was the Future
13. Man VS MIDI
14. John
15. Technophobe
16. Xenophobia
17. Let's Pretend We're Dead
18. Where am I?
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"Art isn't meant to always be pretty and make us feel comfortable and good about ourselves. I'm not afraid to broach difficult emotions and to express the beautiful ones too." - Martin Saint
"I always wanted to express my emotions with my music, and this is what I do. And I think true music lovers feel when music is coming from the heart." - Tilo Wolff
"It's my kind of duty to provoke people and to make sure they feel something — to dance, cry, do whatever they feel. I do motivate them, because that's my purpose." - Chris Corner
"We're really into oxymorons and that sort of thing. Years and years ago, we came up with this idea—well, we didn't invent it, but we called it "happy sad"." - Matt James
