Album In Focus with Vince Leigh

Moaning Lisa

fainter

Moaning Lisa’s sophomore album, fainter, unfolds as a carefully crafted tapestry, blending emotional candour, instrumental finesse, and compelling narrative tension. The Melbourne-nee- Canberra quartet, fresh from sharing stages with indie luminaries like Mitski and Midnight Oil, flexes their growing artistry with this record—a meditation on vulnerability, resilience, and the quiet storms that rage inside us all.

The album opens with its title track, riding a steady groove that walks a precarious line between melancholy and hope. Slide guitar and harmonies swell into a cathartic crescendo, transforming a straight-ahead introduction into a lush emotional landscape.

fainter sets the stage gracefully, beckoning the listener into the album’s heart.

wayside continues with measured precision, driven by an arpeggiated synth line and a fuzzed-out chorus that’s as potent as it is catchy. The bassline is a subtle powerhouse, grounding the track while the guitars flirt with distortion.

Then comes lead single 4am (where have you been?), a smartly constructed anthem of interpersonal miscommunication, carried by stabbing guitar riffs and a soaring, bittersweet hook. Its mix of jagged edges and melodic warmth exemplifies the band’s knack for tension and release.

Midway through, agoraphobia strips things back. Acoustic-led and lyrically raw, it addresses isolation with focused energy, with a building intensity that mirrors the song’s narrative weight.

Meanwhile, the cheekily titled getting over you is on my list of things to do (but not at the top) hurls us into post-grunge nostalgia with delicious ‘90s embellishments and a hook-laden refrain that lingers long after the song ends.

The experimental flutey shifts the album’s tone, leaning into psychedelic textures and swirling ambient sounds, offering up a well-timed, introspective interlude.

anything, anyone and flower take a more restrained, acoustic path, balancing poetic lyricism with evocative instrumentation. Both tracks display the band’s range, emphasising their ability to reduce the volume without losing impact.

Closing with comfortable 2 (alone), the album delivers its most poignant moment. Cinematic washes and folk-inspired strumming crescendo into an exhilarating finale, leaving the listener galvanised and contemplative.

With fainter, Moaning Lisa has created an album that resonates deeply, every track a testament to their evolving sound and storytelling prowess.

It’s the sound of a band coming into its own—and inviting us to do the same.

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