Combining sounds reminiscent of M83, Daft Punk and Coldplay, Utah artist Nightspring released his full debut album, The Winter House. Encompassing a wide variety of sounds ranging from rhythmic electronic dance to catchy pop songs to mellow ballads, The Winter House features a good balance of sound and style. The album’s title offers a thematic framework to making the music album oriented. The use of atmospheric sounds and synths put the listener into an environment that although is cold and wintery, has a celebratory and joyous quality, giving a nice contrast to the typical deadness of the winter. Opening the album up with “The Winter House” the listener is thrown into a party, perhaps as the second track “Housewarming Party” suggests. Being rhythmically heavy with grooving basslines and electronic dance beats, these songs are easy to like, making you want to dance along and join said party. One track that stands out as being an easy favorite is “To Denver”, a rhythmic heavy song, which is well arranged and has a strong bassline. The track has a cold atmosphere to it that the ambient background sounds and footsteps bring the listener into the depth of winter; but as the bass and drums enter, the song becomes grounded. The drums and bass stop in the middle of the song, leaving wintery electronic piano and new-wave synths, which are soon after reunited with the drums and bass again, tying the song together nicely. As the album continues we dive into more pop sounding songs that show the influence of Coldplay with songs like “New Horizons” and “North Star”, and also M83 influenced songs like “The Beauty Void” and “Rocky Mountain Moonlight”. The songs are sonically accessible however the delicate vocals combined with the popish instrumentation, make moments in the songs sound slightly cheesy at times, yet it still continues in being celebratory and positive.
Thematically wise, up until this point of the album, the general mood of The Winter House has been upbeat, joyous and dance-filled, bringing lightness to the dead of winter. Unfortunately as the album slowly comes to an end it seems that Nighspring has succumbed to the cold, dark and dreariness often associated with the winter. Such change in mood begins with “Cabin Fever”, a song beginning with a single piano that as it slowly mixes in layer upon later, adds more tension, thus bringing the of feeling helplessness. As the song climaxes and reaches the end of its downward spiral we are brought to the song “Balm”, which is the most introspective and honest song off the album. The simplicity of the piano combined with the harmonized vocals brings out the trueness of the song, giving perspective into the mind of Nightspring. Despite being so positive throughout The Winter House it seems that “Balm” gives a needed balance providing the yin to the album’s yang. By being so introspective in having “hindrances that would not make sense to you” and being haunted by “time (which) is so unforgiving”, it’s a moment we can all relate to; reflecting and subsequently striving for something more deep and fulfilling in life. To finish off The Winter House, it seems that making the effort to change has been realized in knowing “why I’m here” and “why I’m not there”. Having this realization fits perfectly alongside the album closer “Spring Thaw”, signifying a sense rebirth and starting a new. With a sense of cleansing and the subsequent blooming of life from the sounds of chirping birds and flowing streams of water, the album comes to a full circle and is brought to a close.
The Winter House is not only easy to like from its melodic vocal melodies and rhythmic heavy basslines, but also is arranged well, and has meaningful lyrics that are very relatable. All of this combined together keeps the listener involved and interested throughout its duration and for a debut album it is a solid release, worthy of listening to again.
You can listen to The Winter House here: http://nightspring.bandcamp.com/album/the-winter-house-2 or on spotify.
Favorite songs: To Denver, Cabin Fever, Balm
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