Yes, it’s official. Christmas is well on its way. You’ve probably already heard that damned Slade song bags of times as you wander the aisles of your preferred supermarket while the telly ads are building up a real Christmas momentum. And, of course, the Christmas records have started coming thick and fast. If you’re craving something new and a little different – here’s the heads up about two new Christmas offerings that might just hit the spot!
First up, and oddly maybe, Aussie soul and funk powerhouse band, THE BAMBOOS are all set to deliver a rather tasty 45 that pairs two new seasonal tunes – ‘Wrapt In A Beau’/’The Bells Of Holly Hill’.
The former is an easy on the ear soul roller with a sweet and lovely vocal from ever dependable, long time Bamboos collaborator KYLIE AULDIST (who co-penned the song with band main man LANCE FERGUSON) . It’s a real seasonal sweetie. The flip is a little different – it’s a string drenched instrumental replete with sleigh bells, crisp backbeats and a honking horn solo. It’s both clever and seasonal though, madly, the string parts remind me of the riff from ‘TSOP’!
This limited edition double-sider 7″ is released on November 15th via Pacific Theatre Records and for that little extra something it comes in custom printed knitted Christmas sleeve that will rival even the most garish seasonal woolen jumper.
Of the record Lance Ferguson says: “I’m never going to make an Xmas track without putting some sleigh bells in the mix, and you should see some of my yuletide knitwear…but for everyone who celebrates Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere it’s something that falls right in the middle of Summer, flying in the face of much of that iconic festive imagery. With these songs we thought we’d lean into some of those unique things that make a sun-drenched, snow-less festive season special.”
Our second new, recommended Christmas 45 comes from another unlikely source – currently hot girl band SAY SHE SHE. For their seasonal offering the girls have decided to cover Marvin Gaye’s ‘Purple Snowflakes’. Soul collectors will know that Marvin created this unusual song on the chassis of his lovely ‘Pretty Little Baby’, and it’s been covered many times, notably by John Legend and Gregory Porter. As you’d guess, Say She She put their own unusual spin on the song but keep that catchy little riff. It really works; it’s different for sure and will be available digitally as well as in limited edition vinyl. There will be just 1,000 opaque purple vinyl copies with a new song, ‘This Wintertime’ on the flip. The label is Karma Chief.
