The Winterpills | Music Review

The Winterpills blew onto the national music scene like a bitter wind with their hit single “Broken Arm.” Their sophomore album, “The Light Divides,” builds solidly on the haunting tone of their critically acclaimed self-titled début, which gives hope that the best is yet to come. This Northampton-based act avoids the insincerity that plagues most mainstream emo-pop acts. They don’t scream their angst; they whisper it on simple acoustic chords, minimal drumming, and piano parts so quiet you miss them on your first listen. The joint vocals of Philip Price and Flora Reed are both disturbing and oddly hopeful, like an echo in an empty church. The combined effect has a way of stirring up deeply personal memories, and even new listeners will immediately feel an intimate familiarity with the tracks on these albums. The Winterpills have joined the ranks of Elliot Smith, Sufjan Stevens, and Nick Drake — artists who consistently find that meandering point where pain is somehow comforting. The sound of freshly betrayed innocence, it’s music for the morning after. These are perfect albums for anyone who has had a tough winter.