The Spine Stealers return with a haunting ambient-folk delicacy

“Midwest Winter” emphasizes the duo’s cinematic sensibilities.

Ghostly electric figures and a voice layered in light distortion create an unshakable impression at the start of The Spine Stealers’ latest single, “Midwest Winter.” Released on May 2, the track points to the band’s artistic growth. There is a palpable sense of desolation embedded into the waves of fuzzy, sustained guitar, as well as in the haunted monologue snaking through the hushed instrumental storm. Guitarists and vocalists Emma O’Shea and Kate Ruland make up the band’s principal members (though they’re frequently joined on lap steel by James Grenier), and their embrace of darker tones dominates the track’s opening 90 seconds.

During that intro section, a spoken monologue rises and falls in the mix, occasionally becoming indiscernible. But when a line does come across clearly, it’s striking: “It will cut you / Some inclusive heartache / Sticks like honey, melts like it too… / You want to fall into traditional sorrow / You want to go out to dinner and come back home / In this house, you let the walls soak up the whispers of all of us… / In this house, we let the windows get all black / And I learn to poke the sky with holes,” intones O’Shea, before the vocal melody begins in earnest.

From the jump, “Midwest Winter” feels like a slight departure for The Spine Stealers, who typically operate in a hazy campfire-existentialism mode of indie-folk. Here, the breadth of scope feels wider than it ever has, as the duo latch onto something a few shades darker than their previous work. When the more traditional songwriting kicks in, and an elegiac fiddle figure replaces the stargazing, post-rock-tinged wonderment, the band’s already put a knot in listeners’ stomachs. “Should have known / you liked this time of year,” sings O’Shea, her voice once again occupying the space between country drawl and folk quiver. “The fires burn blue / I can’t think clear,” she continues, in a gently wistful reverie.

O’Shea’s vocals are as commanding on “Midwest Winter” as they’ve ever been, holding listeners’ attention rapt as the song unspools a narrative about heartache, mismanaged expectations, self-defeat, and abandonment. Intentionally frail and powerfully heartbroken, the track registers as the band’s most arresting work to date. It’s a genuine stunner, and every time the near-silent transition between the ambient intro and melodic verses hits, I can hear and feel my heart beating harder against my chest. It’s a fleeting instance of maximum emotional impact via silence; a potent collision of heavy emotions fighting for dominance in a moment that occupies a nebulous territory between epilogue and prelude.

“Midwest Winter” is another tantalizing turn from a duo that has been cementing their status as one of Madison’s premier folk acts over the past few years. With each slight evolution, it’s increasingly apparent they’ve tapped into something indefinably special; their songwriting beckons listeners further in, communicating a sense of assurance and warm familiarity. Even when the band’s at their coldest, as is the case with “Midwest Winter,” it’s an invitation that proves too naturally welcoming to deny.

All of that openness and warmth translates naturally to the band’s live show. I’ve been fortunate enough to catch the band play a handful of times over the past several months. In every instance, they’ve delivered a quietly moving set, often in spite of overly-talkative rooms. No matter how chatty those venues got, their music cut through, often in profound ways. While “Midwest Winter” wasn’t performed during any of those sets, I look forward to catching its live rendition one day. The strength of the track is yet another reason to make the effort to catch one of their sets, and Madison showgoers will have ample opportunity to do so over June, with The Spine Stealers having six shows in Madison over that time presently on the books.

At this point, The Spine Stealers have proven their mettle. O’Shea and Ruland have written a handful of exceptional songs, refined their live show into something consistently poignant, played shows at a relentless clip, and handled their popularity uptick with grace. And with “Midwest Winter” further evidencing the band’s expanding ambition, all that’s left is to look forward to whatever the band’s horizon holds. It’s all but certain to be memorable.