Goodness is Melbourne killing it or what? Broken River has released a heartbreakingly fantastic single in Me Versus You, reminding me why I love a sombre tear jerker.
Calling on DMA’s, Gang of Youths and a a bit of Springsteen, this electrifying act is showcasing some of the best in dark, layered rock I have heard in a long long time.
Broken River has just released his heartbreakingly brilliant new single, Me Versus You, a dark, yearning ballad that touches all the right places.
Me Versus You, is as the title suggests, a narrative of heartbreak and emotional trauma; the struggle between two people fighting to keep a love alive. The track is an ode to that eighties romance, sweetly articulated and filled with a poignant sorrow that you just can’t shake.
Frontman and songwriter Ben Stolz, takes a bold lead, his voice sharp and clear, burning with passion and energy. At no point in the track does the song ebb away, ensuring you are hooked from beginning to end.
What I love most about Me Versus You is that if you can’t completely relate to its story, there’s plenty of emotional magnetism in the instrumentation to connect with, sans lyrics.
Through a palpable darkness, there are pop threads that weave throughout and reel you in; minor falls and majors lifts, reverberant guitar riffs that hang in the background, and a persistent piano bash that is almost as emotionally driven as Stolz’ vocals.
These elements are lush and layered, laced together neatly with a husky organ lead that creeps in towards the track’s climax, grabbing you by the scruff and dragging you into the story Stolz is telling – a difficult thing to do and one that Me Versus You pulls off beautifully.
Broken River will be taking over The Tote in Melbourne on the 17th of August to launch the single. I am absolutely kicking myself that I live Sydney-side. It is sure to be one of those sing along, get up and sway evenings, I challenge anyone who hears this track not get physical (and emotional).
Support on the night will come from The In The Out and Teenage Dads. Check out the event here.
Following that Broken River will be hitting stages all year, including Wall to Wall Festival and Melbourne’s Some Velvet Morning.
With so much time on the stage we can only hope that this single is a taste of what to expect when it comes time for a Broken River EP or LP.
