Clone – CL. 1
The intriguing combination of punk and post-punk elements on Clone’s album, CL.1, creates an arrangement of raw sorrow, fuzzy, loud guitars, and in-depth emotional exploration. The album features the musical skills of Dead Leaf Echo vocalist LG Galleon, together with NYC artists Gregg Giufree (Pilot to Gunner), Max Idas, and Dominick Turi. It combines a beautiful, dreamy punk attitude with a gritty, DIY mindset. “Room of Tears,” the first song, sets the mood with its moving story of a wealthy youngster attending his father’s burial. The lyrics, which express a feeling of inherited pain and rage, are harsh and moving. The arrangement of the song, with its multilayered guitars and passionate vocals, pulls the listener right into Clone’s deeply private world. As an anthem for the marginalized, the 99%, and those silenced by structural injustice, “Immutable” radiates strength and uniqueness. It is a potent criticism of societal injustice with a raw intensity that strikes a deep chord because of its continuous rhythm and cutting lyrics. “Dazzler,” a track told from the perspective of a pimp, offers a gritty, darkly poetic look into the exploitation and desperation within that world. The song’s intense, almost hypnotic repetition of “Come tonight” underscores the manipulative and sinister nature of the narrative. The song “Dividing Line,” which stands out, explores the current scene and focuses on Donald Trump’s aggressive and divisive speech. The repeated cries of “Fire” and “RIOT” build up a dramatic, even apocalyptic atmosphere that accurately reflects the confusion and rage of the current state of politics. This song shows the band’s ability to integrate political critique with catchy post-punk music with its revolutionary tone. Clone sticks to an ethereal punk aesthetic that is symbolic of the 1980s but with a modern touch throughout the entire album. Dark, introspective themes are further explored by the band in songs like “Still Life,” which tells the story of a stalker, and “Salt Sea Strain,” which depicts a terrible seaside death. These tracks’ haunting atmosphere is enhanced by their reverb-heavy production and creepy melodies. “Redeemer” and “Insides” delve into the psychological, exploring themes of cult manipulation and child endangerment, respectively. The former is particularly striking with its seductive, yet foreboding lyrics, while the latter’s urgent commands to “GO NOW” convey a sense of imminent danger and desperation. The closing tracks, “Triage” and “Resurrection,” bring the album full circle with their focus on conflict, both external and internal. “Triage” warns of an impending war, while “Resurrection” reflects on the cyclical nature of mistakes and judgment, ultimately leaning towards a nihilistic worldview. Clone’s powerful, reflective album CL.1 combines post-punk and punk elements with modern topics in a superb way. The audience is both challenged and engaged by the band’s raw, enthusiastic performance and LG Galleon’s moving lyrics, which make for an emotional listening experience.
Photo Credit: photo by Silvia Saponaro
