Complex themes of darkness and pain are incredibly difficult to explore through the medium of popular music and those that have been able to pull it off are a rare breed.
The most immediate voices that spring to mind are the likes of Australian songwriting legends like Nick Cave, Gareth Liddiard, and Paul Kelly, as well as contemporary indie icons like Cat Power, Sharon Van Etten and Elliot Smith.
And now Brisbane / Byron Bay three-piece Moreton step into the fray with their staggeringly beautiful, yet gut-wrenching, second single, ‘Johana’.
LISTEN TO ‘JOHANA’ HERE:
Opening with a burst of deep and deliberate, angular guitar notes that make way to reveal a cardiac beat that remains constant throughout the song, Moreton’s front woman Georgia Potter’s powerful voice floods the mix with equally potent words as she explores the tragic tale of ‘Johana’, drawing the listener into every syllable before eventually revealing the song’s twist – a heart-breaking turn akin to timeless dark ballads like ‘Where The Wild Roses Grow’ and ‘The Long Black Veil’.
Alongside the desolate lyrics though, is an addictive array of hooks that sink further into the listener with each repeat listen. The opening line of “Oh Johana…”, itself will swim in your head for weeks, as well as the collapsing notes of, “Didn’t anybody tell ya…” and the distorted tear of,“… a lost soul ain’t broke.”
The band’s debut EP Specimen will be released October 7 via Create/Control, while they are set to capitalize on the buzz they generated with recent performances at Bigsound when they showcase the EP with their first ever east coast tour, playing shows in Brisbane, Sydney andMelbourne throughout November. Tickets are on sale now.
Specimen is available to pre-order now
MORETON SPECIMEN TOUR:
THU 3 NOV: Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane – Tickets
THU 10 NOV: The Toff, Melbourne – Tickets
SAT 12 NOV: Brighton Up, Sydney – Tickets