Unlike some of their folk contemporaries, Winter don't hook you with jangling banjos (who doesn't love banjos?) or generic lyrics about Lion Men (or something) on 'The Biggest Truth'. Instead, they pull you in with sincere lyrics about past mistakes, supported by Noah & the Whale-esque acoustics and the ranging vocal tones of Simon and Garfunkel – the duality of which creates a heartfelt and folky tune. A xylophone makes an appearance towards the song’s middle, which, coupled with the opening whistles, gives a lightheartedness that cuts through the seriousness of the vocals.
Following on from their spring 2014 release 'The Sea Bites Back', brothers Matt and Joe Winter’s latest offering is much more of a spring than winter. ‘The Biggest Truth’ has a feeling of uncertainty that arises from the brothers’ experience of difficulty in creating music together, after disbanding a previous group, moving away and trying to build new lives. The biggest truth revealed in this track is that there are no real truths, apart from the ones that you create yourself. “Keep pushing on”, say the brothers, even if you can't answer the question: “What will you say when I ask you ‘what did you do yesterday?’”, because the mistakes and choices made in your life aren't necessarily the things that will shape you; how you react and adapt to those decisions is the main crux.
It’s a lot to gather from one song, but even if those aren't the biggest truths that Winter wanted you to know, the song's folky simplicity and dual/multiple vocals make for a relaxingly easy listen, yet it contains enough depth to cause your mind to escape. Much as this writer's has.
Winter’s debut album ‘In The Dark’ is out on 4 May on Wild Sound.
Words by Matthew Doyle. Follow @mmmmdoyle on Twitter
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