Juno : A Future Lived In Past tense

Excellent post-hardcore skills. From America...

They may have emerged from the US punk scene, but Juno are as concerned with lush atmospheres as blazing intensity. On this, their second album, they lace their brand of melancholy emocore with elemntal ambience to devastating effect.

While capable of fury, Juno prefer to exercise restraint, only occasionally allowing themselves bouts of noisy catharsis. 'Covered With Hair' and 'You Are The Beautiful Conductor Of This Orchestra' are full-tilt balls of rage which hint at Husker Du and At The Drive In, but the scope of Juno's ambition
is more fully demonstrated on the album's more reflective moments. Most astounding is the epic 'The French Letter', slowly evolving over ten minutes to explore (with surprising success)the terrain between Fugazi and Pink Floyd.

Frontman Arlie Carstens' lyrics balance weighty contemplation with deft storytelling, most evident on the spoken-word piece "Things Gone And Things still Here". Throughout the record, he obsesses over the passage of time and the nature of human existence, summoning up enough regret and paranoia to brand Juno a post-hardcore Radiohead.

'A Future Lived In Past Tense' is a stunning record. With each play it reveals more and more, becoming increasingly overwhelming. You'll have little choice but to succumb.

Olly Thomas