Lo-fi folk is a genre that has long since been replaced with one filled with over-production and predictability, known simply as the 'singer-songwriter' genre. Wax & Wane's Winter does a formidable job of attaching a modern feel to this forgotten folk genre while still paying homage to British folk acts. One of the biggest reasons why Winter remains distant from the modern folk genre is due to its brilliant use of a unique lo-fi recording technique. It is certainly not over-produced - yet it would be incorrect to plainly categorize the recording as lo-fi. Rather than settle for a minimalist sound throughout the album, an array of instruments including violin, horns, piano, and guitar create lush layers without falling victim to a cold, produced sound.
Although the fact that the band offers three lead vocalists immediately removes Wax & Wane from the typical singer-songwriter genre, Winter comes across as a series of separate ideas rather than the effort of a collective band - leaving the listener with the impression that these three artists could each stand well on their own within that genre. While it is a bit jarring to hear such vastly different lead vocalists on an album this short, it also allows for several very refreshing interpretations of the genre. Guitarist Danny Costa's two-part collection "Hell is Waiting" and "Hell is Here" is possibly the highlight of the album. His voice is at its best when it crescendos from unaffected humming to a thickly harmonized moan. Songs featuring the voice of guitarist Ari Schenck are much less intense and reminiscent of the more playful side of the 60's folk movement. The band seems at its most comfortable in songs like "Let Me Go" and "Wind Blows," where Schneck showcases his calm voice alongside rich layers of instrumentation. In what is possibly the most reminiscent of Nick Drake's Pink Moon, violinist Sine Jensen provides vocals on the wonderful "Eyes of Blue." Of course, the song is not reflective of Drake in her melody or chord choices, but rather the personal mood of the song, as Jensen's voice is accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and occasional chimes. Her whisper-quiet voice is a disappointment only in that it appears on but one track on the album.
While it may be difficult to imagine Wax & Wane releasing an album with a uniform sound, this doesn't seem to be something that the band should even attempt to achieve. Winter does an incredible job of revitalizing an aging genre, and this is without a doubt directly due to the diverse influences of the songwriters.
