It seems both apposite and timely, as we head towards the Christmas celebrations, that the third single from Judas Goat & the Bellwether is a reminder of what, for the faithful, these celebrations are all about. If you cut through all the Christmas clutter and holiday hubris that society has stacked cheap and plentiful at this time of year, you find at its heart a simple tale of faith and love and, eventually, sacrifice and redemption. “Water into Wine” is a song that cuts to the heart of that story.
There has always been a spiritual and even recognizably Christian undercurrent to the duo’s music, whether in the form of “There is Always a Dawn’s” reminder of humanity’s responsibilities as custodians of the planet or the exploration of the idea of Purgatory on their last single, “Ghosts In The Sand.”
Here, over their characteristically spacious sound – Pete Vincent’s deftly cast acoustic guitar and Sara Vian’s compelling vocals, and little else – a tale, perhaps even autobiographical, of someone seeing the light and surrendering to a force more powerful than themself emerges.
A blend of traditional folk and more contemporary indie approaches to the genre, and whether you are a believer or not, “Water Into Wine” is the perfect way to remind everyone of what our end-of-year celebrations are based on. And even if the message is not for you, Judas Goat & The Bellwether have still given us a fantastic song.
