Saturday, 26 November 2016

She & Him - Christmas Party


29 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy Christmas Party here (Amazon UK)

It is not the first time indie-pop duo She & Him (M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel) have tackled Christmas and, based on the glorious results contained on Christmas Party, it hopefully won't be the last. Five years have passed since they gifted the world with A Very She & Him Christmas (buy here - Amazon UK) and, like a favourite Christmas tree ornament, that project has been wheeled out annually by fans everywhere to soundtrack their Yuletide merriment. Christmas Party is a worthy successor to this gem - packed with innovative new takes on seasonal standards that unveil hitherto hidden facets of the well worn lyrics we all know and love. If She & Him want to make a Christmas every five years from now until the end of time then that would be A-OK with me. Here's why Christmas Party will have you shimmering with festive cheer...

The album opens with arguably the best modern-classic of the past 25 years - Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You. Initially set against a backdrop of gently strumming guitars, shuffling percussion and textured backing vocals. Zooey's yearning vocal brings out the longing in the lyrics, giving the song a more melancholy aura than the original. There is a mood shift as the song progresses - Zooey becomes empowered by her wish, sounding more confident that it could happen whilst the addition of sumptuous horn to the instrumental brings a sense of anticipation and giddiness. This is reflected in the joyous final refrains of the session singers, leaving the listener kicking up their heels with festive merriment. It's almost a statement on the nature of the Mariah song - regardless of what mood you are in when it first starts playing, wherever you are, it soon breaks down those defenses and leaves you grinning like a lottery winner. Next up is Let It Snow, a mid-tempo groove that really lets the lyrics of the song breathe. It allows Zooey's voice to shine forth and accentuate the romantic nature of the lyrics. If it feels warm and toasty it is because the song becomes an aural hug, conjuring up images of window panes framing gorgeous winter storms raging outside. Here, as through the album, the score contributes to this perfectly. The duo are called She & Him because of this symbiotic relationship between voice and instrument that enhances the narrative of the lyrics and brings greater insight to the message they bring. If the first two songs are playing whilst guests arrive, Must Be Santa indicates that everyone has arrived, libations are served and the good times are ready to roll. This rollicking, Spanish infused romp is a delirious call and response song, the type that becomes a game to keep up as the music flows forward with mischief and hook-laden euphoria. I wasn't aware of this song (a Bob Dylan original) but now can't imagine Christmas without this version giving me Siesta-Fiesta realness. Happy Holiday shows that Zooey and Matt can do Hollywood golden era theatricality with the best of them. Whilst their laid back instrumentation eschews the grandiose nature of the original, there is no lack of enthusiasm or sincerity for the most wonderful time of the year. The finger clicking groove brings an undeniably cool vibe, as if Zooey and the vocalists are elegance personified while Matt dons his favourite tux (with sneakers no doubt) to perform this for your enjoyment.

The party takes a pit stop in the lush island tropics of Hawaii for Mele Kalikimaka where, once again, nuanced instrumental brings forth images of swaying palm trees, golden beaches and lapping waves on the shore. Zooey gives a buoyant vocal that gives sprightly magic to the cheery lyrics and has you hula-ing along before she even gets to the first chorus. If their aim is to give you a jolly good time then they are certainly succeeding. But Christmas is also about reflection and rumination and that is what Christmas Memories brings us. It is perhaps the most evocative song on the album - a song that uses vivid linguistic imagery to describe the wonder of happy festive recollections in order to stir this exact personal histort in the listener. The gentle accompaniment works blissfully along Zooey's spellbinding vocal. If you end up lost in your pensive thoughts, fear not - Run Run Rudolph will get you back into the swing of the party. Mr Ward gives us a compelling gravelly vocal that guides the laconic melody, swirled in an instrumental that is a fusion of crunchy surf beach boys and shangri la girl groups. Cocktail hour arrives on the beautifully meandering Winter Wonderland. It has a dreamlike quality to it with stirring textured harmonies. Makes you feel like you've travelled through magical space to Narnia. Or maybe that is just the third Flirtini doing the talking... Either way, it is heavenly festive shoe gaze majesty that you don't want to end.

Stay nice and toasty inside the party because outside it is The Coldest Night Of The Year. The story is essentially what happens once Baby It's Cold Outside ends. You have two people in love who are struggling to find justification to spend time apart. As their arguments falter, there is a contented resignation in the vocals that leaves you with your own inner glow. It is this glow that makes A Marshmallow World so edibly enticing. Sugary cooing reminds us of times when lyrics and melody were king, and that technology is no substitute for talent. The party begins the inevitable herding of guests towards the exit by reminding folk about The Man With The Bag. It is notable on this song, as with the whole album, that She & Him resist the temptation for full on seasonal exuberance with their interpretations. That is not to say they haven't found their own way to radiate their own brand of Christmas sparkle for they absolutely have. Here it is the organic gathered-round-the-guitar style score and the innate serendipity in Zooey's tonality. It shepherds in the final song, Christmas Don't Be Late with stately poise. The lyrics are full of child like wonder yet Zooey brings a sense of wisdom and maturity, as if the song came back to her years later when lost in a memory. The way she explores the connection to the feelings long forgotten brings some melancholy, yet it is entirely stunning. What a fine way to end an album thatis full of seasonal cheer and heavenly introspection.

**Ghosts of Christmas past**
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