SOUNDTRACK: ERASURE-Snow Globe (2013).
Rather than making a straight up Christmas album, Erasure created a hybrid of original songs and traditional songs for the holidays. I’m not even sure if some of the original songs can be considered holiday songs at all. What’s interesting is that while the songs are clearly Erasure (Andy Bell’s voice is unmistakable), they don’t exactly sound like Erasure. Musician Vince Clarke said, “Everything about Christmas has been written already. We thought it would be more interesting to look into the darker side of the season. For a lot of people, Christmas is not a happy time.” So a lot of the songs feel stripped down or perhaps eerie.
The first song “Bells of Love (Isabelle’s of Love)” is a song of hope. It has an Erasure feel (especially in the chorus), but it’s definitely not as full as a typical song from them. It may not be especially Christmasey what with these lyrics:
I don’t believe in your religion
I only know what I can see
So many sad, so many lonely
It’s only love that sets us free
But the sentiment is what’s at the heart of Christmas sprint
What we want
What we need
Is a touch of the healing hand
With a little emotion
Can you hear the bells of love?
One day they’ll be loud enough
“Gaudete” is absolutely wonderful. It’s a 16th century Christmas Carol (which means “rejoice”). Erasure could easily make an album doing this with traditional songs and it would be amazing. They stick to the traditional melody, but it just feel so powerful. The backing vocals, thee Latin, the bells and subtle bass. Everything about this song is very cool. It doesn’t really scream Christmas, but clearly it is a Christmas song.
“Make It Wonderful” has a cool synth riff after the chorus and a somewhat poppy feel.
“Sleep Quietly” is a by Ruth Heller (originally called “Sleep Quietly My Jesus”) who I can find no information about. This version feels eerie for sure with the synth choices and the nearly whispered vocals by Bell. These songs about Jesus seem odd for Erasure, since their song “Bells of Love” specifically mentions not believing.
“Silent Night” is a beautiful song and they do a lovely job with it–layered synths and Bell’s gently echoed vocals. It’s lovely. “Loving Man” feels most like an Erasure song–bouncy synths and clacking drums.
“The Christmas Song” is one of the most unsettling songs on the disc because Bell sings the song fairly traditionally, but the music sounds like an 8-bit video game. That is until the chorus which sort of takes off in a dance direction.
Next up is a delicate take on “In the Bleak Midwinter.” It is pretty and gentle and as with many of these songs I love the attention to care that they band put into the backing vocals and production.
“Blood on the Snow” hardly seems like a Christmas song, but it is about the snow. It’s quite sinister, especially that powerful five-note bass line and those eerie mechanical synths sounds. The lyrics make it seem like a take on the three wise men story, but with a darker twist
Star don’t lose your shine
Be sure to light the way
Your essence is divine
For these three gifts we bring
It’s only a small offering of time
“There’ll Be No Tomorrow” is a pure Erasure dance song. It doesn’t feel bleak like the other songs because its got that whole “party like there’ll be no tomorrow vibe,” and yet lyrically that’s a pretty bleak thought:
All bets are off, the party’s on
So let’s away and drown out our sorrows
So don’t be late and celebrate
And party like there’ll be no tomorrow
“Midnight Clear” is the traditional song. Bells’ vocals are lovely. The music is a little weird–deep almost ghostly backing vocals and a very cool, but unexpected, melody between verses.
“White Christmas” is definitely eerie. And since the song is actually quite a sad song, it makes sense. The vocals are distant and almost sound like they are over the phone. In fact, with the intro and outro sound effects, it seems like maybe it’s meant to be sung on a train. And again, there’s that spare mechanical music accompanying.
“Silver Bells” is a simple, pretty take on the song. It’s softer than the other more mechanical songs, with some sweet backing vocals. A slightly happy ending to a rather sad Christmas album.
[READ: December 17, 2018] “Deer Season”
Once again, I have ordered The Short Story Advent Calendar. This is my third time reading the Calendar (thanks S.). I never knew about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh). Here’s what they say this year
Fourth time’s the charm.
After a restful spring, rowdy summer, and pretty reasonable fall, we are officially back at it again with another deluxe box set of 24 individually bound short stories to get you into the yuletide spirit.
The fourth annual Short Story Advent Calendar might be our most ambitious yet, with a range of stories hailing from eight different countries and three different originating languages (don’t worry, we got the English versions). This year’s edition features a special diecut lid and textured case. We also set a new personal best for material that has never before appeared in print.
Want a copy? Order one here.
Like last year I’m pairing each story with a holiday disc from our personal collection.
This is the second story I have previously read in the New Yorker. I assume that since I read it before I read it differently because I feel like I got more out of it this time. On the original read it seemed like a guy writing a story about a girl who wants to have sex. What I found interesting on this read was realizing that a young girl having sex in a small town can have consequences–and not the typical ones (she doesn’t get pregnant). (more…)
I Just Read About That... 