At the core of Winterpills’ third album, Central Chambers, the Northampton, MA, quintet maintains its signature chamber-indie ambience while exploring new grounds sonically and lyrically. You’ll hear production running the gamut from boom box 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, as he condenses his meditative lyrical approach into mantras contemplating the frailty of humanity. 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. Taken as a whole, though, the things you’ll hear - the pleading lyrics, the dreamy pop, the harmonized vocal exchanges and evocative playing - comprise a distinctive sound. OnCentral Chambers, Winterpills’ biggest influence is none other than Winterpills itself.