Fun Balloon Animals took inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein for the themes of its self-titled album (released on Halloween 2019, appropriately enough). The single “The Death of William” from about the middle of the album sounds like something from a near future home invasion movie scored by Sisters of Mercy minus the melodramatic vocals. Pounding drums like lightning while blossoming synth figures cast a dreamlike yet menacing quality upon the track. Musically it also sounds like the part of the book when the creature is hanging about and observing human behavior including the framing of Justine Moritz for the murder of Victor Von Frankenstein’s brother William leading up to asking his creator to craft a mate for him so that he needn’t feel all alone in the world. All the while Victor assumes the creature, which does later threaten to kill everyone he cares about if Frankenstein doesn’t create that mate, is responsible for his misfortunes. The air of heightened reality and impending tragedy courses through the song lending it multiple interpretations and applications in service of a narrative work. The record is a concept album and works well as a whole but “The Death of William” stands on its own with its cinematic aesthetic reminiscent also of Eurhythmics’ darkly moody score for 1984. Listen to the song on Soundcloud and follow Fun Balloon Animals at the links below.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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