Simple and stunning.
John Moreland gifted fans with a surprise album earlier this year after he spent some time unplugged at home. The 12-track album Visitor highlights every facet of Moreland’s talent. Playing nearly every instrument on the album, Moreland wrote and composed each song on the stunning record.
“In 2023, during a year-long break from touring, in an attempt to regain my sanity, I stopped using a smartphone for 6 months, and wrote this album. I recorded it in my living room with help from my wife, Pearl Rachinsky.
I wanted to make a natural sounding folk-rock record. Simplicity and immediacy felt very important to the process, so I knocked out the tracking in about 10 days, playing every instrument on the album myself, save for one guitar solo (John Calvin Abney – ‘The More You Say, The Less It Means’), and Pearl contributed some background vocals on one song (‘Ain’t Much I Can Do About It’).
Lyrical themes include digital vs actual life, a bit of ‘What the hell is up with the world?,’ and a whole bunch of ‘What the hell is wrong with me?’”
While the whole album is well worth listening to from top to bottom, upon its release, Moreland sheds a little more light on the inspiration behind a quick standout, “Gentle Violence.”
When you think you can’t love this folk rock-inspired track more, Moreland goes the extra mile and releases a stunning acoustic performance of the track live from the Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City. The bare-bones performance allows listeners to sink their teeth into the message that he portrays through the lyrics.
“’Gentle Violence’ is a song about a strained relationship with a loved one, in the hyper-political post-pandemic USA. The tension and sorrow around the tough relationship are a microcosm of the tension and sorrow we feel as citizens of this broken world.”
As Moreland accompanies himself on acoustic guitar and harmonica, he delivers each line with conviction.
“There’s a gentle violence
Miles of silence
Separating
You and me
Crystal and covered
In the arms of a mother
I’m a child who cannot flutter myself free…”
John Moreland is one of the most prolific songwriters of our generation, and the simplicity of this performance highlights that flawlessly. Fire this one up ASAP… it will quickly become a favorite.
This video is also your sign to see John Moreland live if you have not already. It’s an out-of-body experience.
