It’s very cool to see Melbourne alternative rockers Vermont release something new. In November, the four piece of Joshua Swanwick (vocals), Jono Hnatejko (guitar), Ryan Hyde (bass), and Curtly Lyon (drums) released “Lonely Mind”, with a hand from Christopher Vernon (Belle Haven, Better Half) on writing, producing, engineering, mixing and mastering. “Breathe” is the latest from Vermont, released yesterday along with a powerful music video directed by Nathaniel Smith.
The story told by the video takes a focal point, where we follow a man in an altered state who’s trying to make sense of his surroundings. Confusedly, he searches and finds no way out of where he’s stuck. The metaphor of being flooded with communication while not actually seen is apparent when he’s faced with people that he can’t get through to, and endless phone notifications and messages that don’t mean anything to him. He becomes progressively desperate and emotional, eventually screaming and crying in this state where he realises that he can’t break through and connect to anyone.
The track warmly and heartfully expresses the inner overwhelm and the things that aren’t seen by others. Frustration bleeds into the raw-er and heavier choruses, while the verses matter-of-factly detail the difficult times they’ve been through.
“I’ve taken all the punches I could bear
The breeze that moved a mountain pushed me here”
The out-of-body observations of people in his life and his scramble to find what he needs is brilliantly captured musically and visually. It’s potently satisfying to finally see the character be raw and grow in determination, as opposed to an intoxicated apathy. And the video close where he staggers to find an escape from the loop, and finally finds what he’s been looking for feels like sheer relief and finally getting freedom of resolution, despite specifics not being shared. As per the song title, he seems like he is finally able to breathe.
Watch the video for “Breathe” below, and keep up with Vermont via their Facebook page.
