52 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!
Buy Old School Yule here (bandcamp)
Revisit my thoughts on Good News and My Funny Valentine here and here (myfizzypop)
You only have to look at that glorious cover above to know that amazing pop-big band-jazz-genre defying crooner, Matt Dusk, cannot wait for Christmas to arrive! In a suit to die for and hair gifted by the gods, he is practically running towards the festive season with an unabashed glee. It is this glee and enthusiasm that fuels his delightful new Christmas album, Old School Yule. Ever since his charming EP, Peace On Earth, I've been waiting for Matt to return to his own unique brand of musical seasonal magic and this new album proves it was more than worth the wait. Jam packed with 15 exquisite Christmas favourites as well as one all new Matt Dusk original, it really is the up-tempo cocktail party album that it is described as in the press release. I can't sing its praises highly enough (and neither should I sing - I'm no Matt Dusk in the vocal department); here are just a few humble thoughts on the treats to be found within this splendid collection...
From the first notes of the opening track, Happy Holidays, you can tell that Matt isn't holding back with the production values and fun factor of these songs. The arrangements are lush and grandiose, backing vocals are there swathe Matt's own flawless crooning vocals, and festive accoutrements that leave the music glistening with shimmering bells and swirling chimes. This glorious re-invention of the White Christmas/Holiday Inn standard introduces the album with a fervent sense of euphoria that radiates from each delectable second. By the time it crescendos to the final chorus, you are high kicking along as if possessed by the power of the Rockettes. It is straight into Sleigh Ride, although with the effective use of vocal and instrument, it feels to the listener like you are actually on the Sleigh Ride with Matt. Thanks to the symbiotic relationship between voice and musician, he conjures up sounds of crunching snow and wind in your hair that also serve to evoke images of a pristine winter wonderland. If it leaves you a bit breathless, then Matt has done his job well because this is finger clicking exhilaration at it's finest. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year immerses itself in the sumptuous instrumentation whilst letting Matt guide the well known melody around the luxurious score. The "ding dong" backing vocals add texture and harmony to Matt's alluring vocal and everything coalesces with a precision worthy of Santa's mission on Christmas eve. Across all the tracks on Old School Yule, Matt certainly invokes inspirations from the Rat Pack but also those of Hollywood's Golden Age movie idols. Here he could easily be singing as he made his way through a Rockwell-esque village at the opening of a grand 1950 movie musical. It is this timeless nature that will help his interpretations of songs like this become indelible favourites for many years to come. The Christmas Song sees the first slowing of the tempo and it really allows Matt's voice to shine like the bright star it is. It is a lovely languorous journey through the much beloved words and melody, ably narrated by one of the most emotive and nuanced singers I know. There is a charming sincerity to the way Matt (and all the backing vocalists) sing, with a wonderful final few moments where the instrumental crescendos to elevate his soaring message even more sky bound.
It wouldn't be a Matt Dusk Old School Yule if he didn't rope in some of his pals to sing along with him. First up is Sophia Perlman who accompanies him on Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. Her silky smooth tones help give this a Doris Day-Gordon MacRae vibe, taking the listener back to simpler times when music wasn't made at the touch of a button in some DJ booth; they infuse personality and wit into the performance, an impish choreographed dance with the equally giddy orchestra. Separately, they are equally delightful but when they sing together it is a heady treat that leaves you smiling from ear to ear. Jingle Bells sees Matt back on solo turf, but he's not letting up for one quick minute. The song is performed at an exhilarating speed (reminding me somewhat of that scene in Christmas With The Kranks where the carolers speed up their version of this very song to signify their enthusiasm) making it a fun romp that will heighten anyone's excitement for the upcoming holiday. White Christmas brings back that finger clicking, easy natured aura that Matt excels at. Horns permeate the song, weaving alongside the frisky percussion and serendipitous piano - it is worth noting here that Matt is a generous performer, knowing that letting these world class arrangements have their time to shine in each song makes for a truly satisfying listening experience for anyone wise enough to spinning this while they decorate the tree. He also sings with his own fevered anticipation for Christmas, giving the listener the impression that he peeks from under the duvet on Christmas Eve every time he hears a noise outside, just like every other child and child-minded person across the world. These little infusions of personality add a layer of warmth and heart to each song. He is equally thrilling on the intoxicating I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm. The song naturally requires a sense of carefree wiles and Matt delivers that in spades. The tempo of the song adds to this slightly urgent feel that surely is a metaphor for how emotions burst inside you when you are happy and you struggle to keep them inside. Matt certainly embodies this feeling and for 3 glorious minutes the world seems a much better place for having this song in it.
The most classic of all Christmas duets is Baby, It's Cold Outside. Matt is joined by Emma-Lee and puts all his smooth moves on her to persuade her to stay. You've got to admire her will power, he is rather difficult to say no to (just look at that album cover!). Her coquettish delivery is the perfect foil for his seductive raconteur. It ensures that this is a fascinating chess game of wills and even though we know the ultimate outcome, the journey is utterly compelling. PS, a quick warning - try not to go weak kneed when Matt sings "put some records on while I pour". Nigh on impossible... And it may be cold outside but Matt has no problem convincing us all to meet him in St Louis as he takes on Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. He oozes an earnest compassion with this heartfelt wish, with the backing vocalists the most angelic co-conspirators in getting this message to the people. The middle 8 feels like the music has traversed the passages of time, giving us 40s Andrews Sisters magic in this modern day era. Here, perhaps more than anywhere else on the album, you get the impression that Matt and the team are just honoured to be singing such a stalwart festive favourite. The slightly elegiac strings at the end bring a tinge of rumination to the song, giving just a small sense of the sadness felt by those who are lonely at this time of year (and hopefully spurring you on to do something about it). You'll soon perk up though when you discover the riotous romp that is ¿Dónde Está Santa Claus? - a delirious take on the 1959 novelty hit that has somehow become a perennial favourite. There is no denying that Mr Dusk brings some Feliz Navidad to his style of Christmas and it makes for a intriguing change of genre. This flurried trip south of the border is just one stop on the way to the Marshmallow World that comes next. This candy confection of a musical treat will have you salivating for more, thanks to the effusive bombastic embrace that the production gives. Sometimes, in this crazy mixed up existence we call life, we all need a bit of a marshmallow world to escape to - and Matt could not have made this any more enticing if he tried.
The album begins its inevitable final quarter with a Barbra Lica duet on Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow. With these duets, I love how Matt has chosen songs that aren't normally sung by two people. It gives the songs a slightly different perspective, a more convivial exploration of companionship that make these evergreens feel like new songs all over again. Barbra sounds like high class chic personified - but the type of elegant dame who would dive into the snow in her shockingly expensive ballgown and have a jolly good time of it all. The experience of this song makes Matt's original composition Snowed In With You the natural follow on number. It is always a challenge inserting a brand new song into an album full of songs ingrained into the Christmas psyche. It has to fit in with the style of music that surrounds it, stand out enough for people to notice and be as enduring as everything else on said festive collection. Snowed In With You succeeds in this task admirably. This original piece is a romantic, cozy production that instantly ingratiates thanks to engaging lyrics and a melody that just won't quit (even when the song has finished). Matt demonstrates a clear understanding of what makes a successful Christmas song and pours all those ingredients into this shimmering gem. You'll be singing this way past Christmas and into the early winter months of 2017 and not a soul will judge you for it (they'll probably join in). Gorgeous. In fact it is equally as enchanting as Winter Wonderland. Here, Matt cements his reputation as a crooner for the ages, up there with the greats. His singing inspires such vivid memories that it sends a shiver of snowy cold down your spine, so realistic is the music that paints brushstrokes to accentuate Matt's descriptive vocals. Just as you are luxuriating in this flawless production, the journey comes to an all too soon end with the most religious choice on the album, Do You Hear What I Hear?. He is joined by a choir he used to part of, St Michaels Choir, and they bring a child like awe to the greatest story ever told. It is a fitting end to an album that feels like your own personal movie of the Christmas season, a final dramatic flourish before the end credits roll and New Year begins to creep into view. This is an album that will be cherished year after year. Bravo Mr Dusk - I salute your fine fine accomplishment here.
**Ghosts of Christmas Past**
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