Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Meg and Dia - December Darling


5 WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE!!

Buy December Darling here (Amazon GB)

The reunion of Meg & Dia has been one of the musical delights of 2019. The album happysad bought uplifting melodic resolution to the complexity of human emotions, reminding the world of this lyrical and vocal prowess of this duo. In hindsight, then, it is little surprise that they channel that creative surge into an album full of seasonal wonder. December Darling is not only a love letter to the highs and lows of Christmas; it is a love letter to the festive music genre. They blend timeless evergreens alongside their own compositions - and what is remarkable is how these new songs stand proudly along the music you've sung for years. This is exquisitely executed and likely to be a new annual favourite for many years to come.

The album pulls you straight into the magic with the duo's take on Let It Snow. The gentle strumming guitar and finger click beat instantly conjures up images of cosy picture-esque sitting rooms with a swirling blizzard of white outside the window. The addition of sleigh bells add a little wonder to the song; but it is those radiant harmonies that send this new interpretation soaring. It is beautifully earnest and sincere - with the convivial sing-along at the end of the song a nudge to the listener that these songs should be shared and enjoyed with those you love. December Darling, the album's title track, is perhaps one of the most eloquent descriptions of why people love this time of year. It is like they reached into my holiday loving soul and conveyed my feelings in a poignant, mellifluous way that I can never quite manage. The melody is a pretty as a snowflake dancing on the breeze, whilst the vocals feel genuinely imbued with a sense of joy just at the gift of being able to sing a song that will become an indelible classic. They then sing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, a song I've always thought had a tinge of sadness and pathos to it. The stripped back (but still engaging) accompaniment lets the words linger, giving the listener the opportunity to savour the sentiment that flows from the ladies voices. It is so lilting and mesmerising that the world seems to stop just for a few moments as you luxuriate in the simplicity of this heartfelt wish.

The piano-vocal duet of Winter Wonderland captures the vivid description of the narrative perfectly. It starts off focusing on those resonant piano chords dancing gracefully alongside the ladies singing; then adds in a textured wall of sound which mirrors the layers of snow decorating the world that are being sung about. This glides sweetly in a second original song, Christmas All The Time. I love how this (and December Darling) enhance the emotions of the classics whilst adding their own take on the genre. I'm here for anyone who sings so effusively and unashamedly about what Christmas means to them and when it is done as wonderfully as this then I'm going right past seventh heaven to cloud nine. Even with the jingles and glitter the music has, it feels like a year round smash to boost your spirits. The melancholy of Christmas isn't ignored - and Lights Blown Out is a swaying groove with dreamy singing that brings to life how missing those people closest to you can place a tinge of sadness on the festivities. This performance proves you don't have to belt songs out to the rafters to get your innermost feelings across - the quiet expression is just as powerful. Don't be blue too long - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year is next; it is one of the first Christmas songs I listen to each you (in some iteration or other). It is usually opulent and grandiose - Meg & Dia present it with no less decadence utilising those expressive vocals to bring out every ounce of glee the song has. It is utterly contagious.

White Christmas takes you right to the soundstage of a lavish Hollywood musical; where songs such as this could be performed with such delicate intimacy yet have to the ability to meaningfully touch the lives of those watching. Meg & Dia's version lets you build your own story around the words that have enchanted for so many years. As the song subtly crescendos, it has an ethereal celestial vibe to it that is all too gorgeous. The final lyric makes you believe that their sincere wish could actually come true. Equally as stirring is The Christmas Song. Across the album, these arrangements and precision of the vocals makes it seem like the duo are bringing you into their world with music that eschews fads and trends and focuses on real instruments and voices intricately layered. All of this comes shining through on this song, like the brightest star in the firmament. It is like a hug from a long lost friend who shows up on your doorstep on Christmas Eve. And then, all too soon, the album comes to a close with Christmas Tree. You may know this song as the one Kevin sings at the start of Home Alone 2 - but you'll soon think of Meg & Dia whenever you hear this being sung from school halls across the world. It brings the album full circle, ready for you to hit repeat and play all over again. One thing is for sure, the glow from this music will always light your way home. I'm forever smitten.

**Ghosts of Christmas Past**
at

No comments:

Post a Comment