Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Scarlett and Disher - December Nights


10 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy December Nights here (bandcamp)

One year ago today (see link in Ghosts of Christmas Past, below), I was marveling at how very well indeed the charming pop duo of Scarlett and Disher had captured the very essence of the season with their EP, That Christmas Feeling. One year on and they are equally as adept at bringing to life the emotions and sentiments of December Nights - a brand new EP of holiday tunes. Hurrah I say, and twice hurrah! It consists of their own interpretations of four well known Christmas songs as well as a brand new composition that sits elegantly alongside the indelible tunes. They've focused on a more organic sound throughout the EP that is rich in drums, guitars, bass and keyboards, all perfectly underscoring their delicious vocals and sumptuous harmonies. The opening track, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, is the perfect example of this and sets the tone for what is to follow. With a prominent percussive beat and shimmering bells, there's a Druid style influence to the music that feels like it was conjured up from Mother Earth herself. It lends itself well to imagining stark winter landscapes, a juxtaposition of barren trees and lush, green holly bushes. That's not to say that the song itself is cold - far from it. The "la la la"s that feel as part of the music as every instrument seem to power the track forward while the sublime singing brings out the heart of the lyrics and guides the mellifluous melody with serendipitous ease. There's also a lovely moment in the middle eight where the music is really allowed to breath and flow before our duo bring this track to it's most satisfying conclusion. Greensleeves continues this journey of musical wonder - the dark December nights lend themselves perfectly to wistful reminiscing and the melancholy nature of this production really highlights that with a gracious majesty. There's something haunting about Laura's vocal and they make a centuries old song sound entirely contemporary without losing any of it's sense of history and reverence. I've always been fascinated by the Tudors and allegedly this song was written about Henry VIII's wanton lust for Anne Boleyn. It certainly has a medieval aura to it but the themes resonant just as well thanks to a mesmerising interpretation.

Next up is O Come O Come Emmanuel - it's worth noting that Scarlett and Disher certainly haven't gone for the classic pop Christmas songs, preferring instead to explore more traditional numbers. This means that they are able to be more innovative and stirring with their musical settings. There's certainly a pervading sense of awe within this song, notably when "Rejoice, rejoice" is sung during the choral refrain - it's the duo giving deference to the gift that was given to the world and those bells that accompany this singing actually make you believe in the performance as much as you do the words. In The Bleak Midwinter strips back the music to let Laura's voice shine like the brightest star, with (initially) a solitary tambourine keeping time. Ever so gradually, more music is added to the score but it's those heavenly vocals that take you to cloud nine with their celestial intonations. The backing vocals that softly prop up the song may as well be the angels themselves singing from on high because it's a religious experience just to listen to them. Less is definitely more and the restraint of performance here is more powerful than belting it out to the rafters (a trick many modern performers could do with learning). The final song, and original composition December Nights, is so well constructed that it holds the themes of the EP together perfectly. It's a song that not only celebrates the season and all the joy it brings, but feels like a love letter to music itself - a throwback to when lyrics and melody ruled the charts rather than studio constructed gimmicks and passing fads. This is songwriting at it's finest - you're drawn into the erudite lyrics and let the soothing music wash over you. You'll be singing these Christmas songs throughout the long December nights and your life will be better for it. Now go, buy and then share with everyone you've ever met. You'll be the most popular person at the party this Yuletide :)

**Ghosts of Christmas past**
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