Central Chambers (2008)

by Winterpills

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Includes unlimited streaming of Central Chambers (2008) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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$12 USD
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Pressed on high-quality vinyl with different artwork than the CD. Also includes a bonus track.

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Everything 01:22	buy track
2.	Take Away The Words 03:22	buy track
3.	Beesting 04:01	buy track
4.	Burning Hearts 04:02	buy track
5.	Secret Blue Thread 04:23	buy track
6.	Gentleman Farmer 04:32	buy track
7.	We'll Bring You Down 03:21	buy track
8.	You Don't Love Me Yet 03:52	buy track
9.	Wire 03:30	buy track
10.	What Makes Me Blind? 04:22	buy track
11.	Weary Heart (free) 03:44	download
12.	Immortal 02:24	buy track

about

At the core of Central Chambers, their newest album and third overall, the Northampton, Mass. quintet maintains its signature chamber-indie ambience while exploring new grounds sonically and lyrically. In it, you'll hear production running the gamut from boombox lo-fi to crisp studio sonorousness; dense rockers balanced by quiet hymns; and an overall diversity in instruments and textures. All of this backs the wandering words of songwriter Philip Price, and here we can see him condensing his meditative lyrical approach into mantras contemplating the frailty of humanity.

This heightens the subjects he studies, themes of frailty and humanity and the heart. He says the album's title, Central Chambers, was initially chosen as a lark, a nod to the band's Northampton rehearsal space. But as the writing/recording process was under way, Price discovered he had a heart condition called an aortic aneurysm; a weakness in the aorta that can lead to hemorrhaging or quick death if left untreated.

With mortality on his mind moreso than ever, the title came to represent for him the chambers of the heart, and themes of the heart crept into the songs he wrote; the life force of blue veins running through everything ("Secret Blue Thread"), an old man collapsing of a heart attack after losing his farm ("Gentleman Farmer"), the aging heart heard through the skin of sleep of an old romantic ("Weary Heart"). "The actual, physical heart goes through many changes and challenges," Price says. But Central Chambers reflects the emotional heart as well. "To me, it also speaks to a place where judgment is dispersed, where lovers meet, where people live - and hide - and where secrets are kept."

These concepts are conveyed with more presence and immediacy than we've heard from Winterpills - notice the forcefulness of "We'll Bring You Down," or the elegance of "Take Away The Words." Certainly, we can still pick up on their roots: those Elliott Smith moments remain, along with newer directions invoking Bonnie "Prince" Billie, The Velvet Underground or The Arcade Fire. But you'll find these influences only if you're listening specifically for them.

Taken as a whole, though, the things you'll hear here - the pleading lyrics, the dreamy pop, the harmonized vocal exchanges and evocative playing - comprise a distinctive sound, crafted over the course of three albums and very much owned by the band playing it. On Central Chambers, Winterpills' biggest influence is none other than Winterpills itself, a strongly established voice that will warm your heart one moment only to sting it the next.

credits

released October 14, 2008

Winterpils are Brian Akey, Dennis Crommett, Dave Hower, Philip Price and Flora Reed.

Guests: Sidney Satorsky (Keyboard treatments), José Ayerve (vocals), Matthew Loiacono (vocals).

This album was produced by Winterpills and Dave Chalfant.

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about

Winterpills Northampton, Massachusetts

Winterpills formed in 2004, around the songs of Philip B Price and the harmonies of Flora Reed and Philip. They've released 7 albums.

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