I want more than a seat at the table

Apply Autonomy Release Show at Kino Am Dach, Wien, Austria 20260905

Let me start by saying what a great choice of venue for an album release. We weren’t only lucky enough to have a lovely end-of-summer weather, but that, together with the city view Kino Am Dach provides, made it the perfect pairing for an album like this one.

The sunset and an excited crowd witnessed My Ugly Clementine‘s third album release show, Apply Autonomy.

Apply Autonomy is an album that navigates the insecurities and shyness fed by one’s inner critic, whereas some self-reflection nurtures the process of healing and gaining autonomy over one’s emotions.
And “Don’t mess with me” encompasses exactly the setting, as it was a song that the band felt unsure about including in the final cut of the album; however, it serves as a great opener and context setter for what was about to come (“This Is Nice“).

The journey goes through the realization and later empowerment of grasping a lil’ more “Confidence“. Only to later on recognize the performative double standards of “The Pretender“, which no amount of cleaned words can hide.
Empowered and enlightened (“Head In The Air“), with the new vision that self-confidence brings, one can move on and look beyond. Yet the path of healing is not linear; one can relapse and fall into what hurts us (“You Won“), and even knowing what is wrong or unhealthy, inner contradictions can arise and make one feel like life is “Science Fiction“, “No Rescue“.

“If You Know You Know“, there is a search and craving for autonomy, and following up with life while dealing with the space that memories can take and the feeling of emptiness those can create.
And who would take us in those turbulent times if not our friends? “Don’t call it platonic; I think it’s romantic, the love for a friend” (“Unlawfully Wedded“).
And along the winding pathway of healing in the search for autonomy and self-confidence, “Apply Autonomy” beleaguers the need to numb the itches of independence, to feel comfort in this new state.

Apply Autonomy is a solid album that circles the healing path of a person who’s fighting their insecurities and willing to move on in life despite them. Ironic, joyful, and afflicted; all at the same time, as life itself.
Fun to listen to, recorded or live, My Ugly Clementine has done a great job of evoking emotions and self-reflection with this album. Solidifying themselves as a band to keep an eye on in the Viennese music scene.

The event was crowned by a raffle of three vinyl Test-pressings of the album (you can get your vinyl here), whose proceeds would be donated to the organization “Changes for women“, the only organization in Austria that supports unintentionally pregnant women in financial distress in financing an abortion and promoting the reproductive self-determination of women and all people who can become pregnant. (more info here).

Afterward, and as a gift to a committed crowd craving more, the band closed the night with a drumless cover of “Unwritten” (originally by Natasha Bedingfield), a whimsical moment to finish with a bigger smile.