Splendor & Misery LP

Splendor & Misery is an Afrofuturist, dystopian concept album that follows the sole survivor of a slave uprising on an interstellar cargo ship, and the onboard computer that falls in love with him. Thinking he is alone and lost in space, the character discovers music in the ships shuddering hull and chirping instrument panels. William and Jonathans tracks draw an imaginary sonic map of the ships decks, hallways, and quarters, while Daveeds lyrics ride the rhythms produced by its engines and machinery. In a reversal of H.P. Lovecrafts concept of cosmic insignificance, the character finds relief in learning that humanity is of no consequence to the vast, uncaring universe. It turns out, pulling the rug out from under anthropocentrism is only horrifying to those who thought they were the center of everything to begin with. Ultimately, the character decides to pilot his ship into the unknown – and possibly into oblivioninstead of continuing on to worlds whose systems of governance and economy have violently oppressed him.