Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Ryland James - A Little Christmas


38 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy-stream A Little Christmas here (external link)

You may know Ryland James from his heartfelt, nuanced pop odes he released this year (such as Shoulder To Cry On and Better Off), multi-layered tracks that just sizzle with energy and emotion. He channels these skills into a beautifully produced Christmas EP, A Little Christmas. Across 4 classic seasonal songs and 1 dazzling original, he manages to distil the heightened feelings of the holidays into a timely and timeless performance that feels intimate and insightful. Swathed in arrangements that are as essential to the words as his own singing, this is one collection that will stay with you for years to come...
  • Please Come Home For Christmas ~ the song made famous by the likes of The Eagles, Jon Bon Jovi and Kelly Clarkson is given a simmering make over by Ryland. He keeps the bluesy nature of the original but slows it down and savours every word. His aching vocal is drenched in a lilting piano accompaniment and bass guitar. It is all so vivid that you get the sense he sings in the hope that his lyrical wish will come true. A brilliant opening number that balances the melancholy of this time of year with a flicker of optimism.
  • A Little Christmas ~ it is a testament to the original song on the EP that it stands shoulder to shoulder with the luminary classics it sits alongside. A 50s doo-wop style arrangement with playful piano and catchy lyrical bon-mots, Ryland sings about the magic of the most wonderful time of the year - eschewing the commercial for the human contact. It feels very relevant to the year we've all just experienced and his enthusiasm is infectious. A new holiday playlist addition for years to come. 
  • Do You Hear What I Hear ~ there's a hushed reverence to the performance of this song that helps the majesty of the lyrics shine like the brightest star in the skies. The gentle piano is lifted by an infusion of gospel harmonies that caress Ryland's melodic vocal. The song naturally crescendos into a gloriously uplifting carol that helps the worries of the world fade away. I love that it comes after the story of A Little Christmas - the lyrics of that flow naturally into this as the next chapter of feeling the spirit of Christmas.
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You ~ is there a more indelible song in recent memory that has had such an impact on the festive season? It has been sung a hundred different ways and I never tire of hearing any of them. Ryland throws himself into an effusive, finger-click take on the Mariah classic and just sounds like he is having the time of his life singing it (and playing that gleeful piano romp).  His voice is expressive, giving each word perfect emphasis that helps us feel every moment with him.
  • Last Christmas ~ a chiming interpretation of the Wham standard has cooing harmonies, muted horns and a shimmering beat that makes you want to sway those hips. He's soulful and searching at the time, laying his heart on the line with a vulnerability in his voice that is quite endearing. His melisma in the middle 8 is a cathartic enchantment that needs no words yet when he sings "now I've found a real love you'll never fool me again" it is a determined kiss off for the ages. 
at

No comments:

Post a Comment