Moral

***MORAL was the trio of MARCO ANDREIS (guitars, bass), HANNE WINTERBERG (vocals) and INGOLF BROWN (synthesizers, rhythm box, sequencer) from Aarhus, Denmark. They released their debut mini-album Dance of the Dolls on cassette shortly after forming in 1981. Whispering Sons followed on cassette in 1982. The group played very few concerts, but they did support both Monochrome Set and Nico. In May 1983, they contributed three songs to the Irmgardz Records sampler Somewhere Outside, a compilation featuring groups from outside of Copenhagen. 
During the summer of 1983, Moral recorded and produced their debut LP, And Life Is…, at Ingolf Brown’s home studio. It was the first release on Ingolf’s label ARP Gramophone in August 1984. Influenced by early 4AD Records, Joy Division, Brian Eno and Wire, the band crafted their own brand of Nordic melancholic post-punk. The album develops the band’s signature sound of glacial synthesizers with crepuscular guitar and serpentine melodies. The main synthesizers used are the primitive Roland TR-606 Drumatix (the percussion side-kick to the TB-303), plus the BOSS DR-55 Dr. Rhythm drum machine. Hanne’s hauntingly beautiful vocals evoke the gentle feather-light voice of Alison Statton from Young Marble Giants as well as the Teutonic chill of Nico. Lyrics about cold nights and blossoming relationships paint a detailed picture of youthful life in Scandinavia. Also included are three bonus tracks that originally appeared on the Somewhere Outside compilation. 
All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The jacket is an exact replica of the original 1984 edition, featuring a photo by PER WIKLUND of a wave crashing into the sea. Each copy includes a double sided 11”x11” insert containing lyrics for each song and photos of the band. This reissue is dedicated to Ingolf Brown who passed away in 2012.