Top notch gothic, post-punky class. Not a second wasted, this is a fully realised vision, crisp and sharp, that grows and grows. Highlight... of the year so far. show more
Not listened to this all the way through for a while. But it's as good as I remember. With the exception of Just... Like Christmas, its slow, melancholic festive fare. Which is just how I like it. show more
It's not really a Christmas album, more a winter record. But it's a perfect fit for this time of year. There's no big... hit singles here, but that's not the point - it's very much a cohesive collection of plush, drifting ambience that lingers in the air like slowly falling snow and echoes the muted sound of that softly powdered landscape. show more
When Simple Minds were the future. When all the parts, all their pasts came together into a magical and mysterious now, and they... scorched a golden trail of luxuriant romantic transcendence. The come down from this was huge, but in hindsight just goes to amplify what a peak this was. show more
Originally the slightly awkward and too-smart-for-its-own-good debut, this has turned into one of my go-to Sprout albums. This is most definitely NOT The... King Of Rock and Roll. Rather it is a collection of angular, scratchy tunes (and what tunes they are!) about never playing basketball, Jodrell Bank and the life of a celebrity chess master. Aztec Camera, Lloyd Cole, and The Smiths are all obvious reference points. But there never was and never will be a songwriter like Paddy McAloon. show more
If you like your folk Christmas albums with a gothic twist, ancient traditional tunes from the British Isles, overlaid with drones and eerie... textures (and let's face it, who doesn't?!), then this is the record for you. Interlaced with the odd acapella carol to break the tension, this is far from your jolly fireside romp through the overdone seasonal cannon. But strangely closer to the heart of the season - both Christmas and Winter. show more
The first recording I've been drawn to explicitly as a result of these pages. Only knew the name Father John Misty before, didn't... know the music. But I'm loving this record - some great tunes that take plenty of time to stretch out and worm their way into your brain. Chamber pop / indie / yacht rock and more. Current favourites are the title track, Screamland and I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All. show more
Obscure early 70s singer-songwriter fare can be a bit hit and miss, but this is a cracker. Less Vashti Bunyan, and more a... pastoral Scott Walker (there are lavish orchestral arrangements behind everything here) this is definitely of its time, both musically and lyrically. But it's that very attribute that will take you to another place - bucolic and vulnerable. show more
It's been a while since I've listened to an Innocence Mission album all the way through. But this popped up this morning, the... reviews have been very good, and it felt worth giving ago. Glad I did, because this is a gorgeous collection of songs. Very much "of the season", and no radical departure from what you would expect from the band that Sufjan Stevens once called out as "moving and profound". The sparse instrumentation, lilting tunes, and Karen Peris' distinctive voice give this collection a delicate golden glow. show more
*This* is what a Christmas record should be. A double-album of folk-inspired (but so much more than that) tunes, a mix of originals... and interpretations of well-know and obscure winter-themed traditional songs. Perfectly captures the rural snow-swept North York Moors landscape in which it was recorded. Feels like mulled drinks, roaring fires, and friends gathered whilst winter roars beyond the walls. show more
