We all yearn for a level of control in our lives. But, modern life is complicated, frequently absurd, and disappoints in just far too many places. Fractured aim to make sense of it all in their latest album, Cracking Up.
Laced throughout with razor-sharp observations on power-mad community groups, conspiracists and assorted weirdos, Cracking Up also tackles the stresses of modern relationships, reality TV narcissists and the dangers of japanese knotweed. Here are fourteen, spiky guitar-driven songs that will persuade you that you are not alone in thinking the way you do.
And, that there is hope and humour in the shared bleakness of it all. Fractured started life in 1983. Following a sixteen-year creative break, multiple personnel changes, three albums, a permanent move to Brighton at the start of the millennium and numerous support slots with The Nightingales, The Monochrome Set, Alternative TV, the late, great Frank Sidebottom, The Fallen Leaves and others, they have arrived in 2023 with Cracking Up – a high energy, post-punk critique of life today in broken Britain. Guitarist, Jamie Kirby, bass player, John McClafferty and drummer, Dave Askwith join Jeff in the current Fractured line-up.
They have plenty to say and will be doing that in multiple gigs across the country, including Bristol (8 June), Brighton (14 July), London (17 July) and on the Introducing Stage at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool on Sunday 6 August. If you’re offended by Fractured, then, that’s your problem. No offence.