Winter Hours

The timeless sound of the aptly named The Deep Dark Woods belongs to the depressing winters of the north. Pulsing with human warmth, these original songs echo through the lonesome night. Ryan Boldt's plainspoken lyrics offer a strong but gentle tone which understates poetry, oftentimes as startling as hot blood in fresh snow. Despite the dark themes, the heaviness never overwhelms the music's playfulness. An utterly fun rhythm section, brilliant guitar work, and eerily rich harmonies drive the songs. One could easily be forgiven for mistaking their songs as treasures of decades past.

The Deep Dark Woods approach their instruments with studied respect for the honored traditions of the shadowy side of roots music. Once again this album showcases The Deep Dark Woods versatility, sifting through different sounds and styles that are melded together. Some songs, like "Farewell" and "How Can I Try," are older than band itself, while "Polly" was written out of the blue while all four members were jamming.