Sunday, 29 November 2020

The Mamas - All I Want For December (EP)


37 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Stream All I Want For December here (Spotify)

The Mamas have continued to shine brightly through what must have been a disappointing year. Due to the global pandemic, Eurovision was cancelled this year meaning that their sparkling and probably winning single, Move, didn't get its chance to sparkle on the main stage. They've soldiered on, releasing equally as dazzling singles in the form of Let It Be and Touch The Sky; and, honestly, there EP (Tomorrow Is Waiting) is up there with Kylie's Disco in terms of life-affirming pop goodness. They're celebrating the end of the year with a second EP, All I Want For December. As you might have guessed this is full of seasonal songs that will make your Christmas merry and bright, rich in the harmonies that have made The Mamas such a glorious treat to listen to, whichever genre they exquisitely make their own...
  • Shine A Light ~ I do enjoy a holiday song that can exist beyond the season; The Mamas start their Christmas journey with an English language version of the classic Swedish standard. A shoulder shimmying reggae-lite groove buoyantly bubbles along this message of hope and optimism; a melodic sermon we all need in the dark times of this global pandemic. Christmas brings heightened emotions (both happy and sorrowful) and this encapsulates both, yet the ladies refuse to give in to the melancholy, lifting their voices in heart felt song to raise their spirits. 
  • If We Make It Through December ~ just as much as The Mamas can give you a little endorphin rush with their songs, they can also break your heart with their nuanced, emotive vocals. LouLou delivers a gorgeous timeless vocal that (seemingly) effortlessly conveys the desperate hope of the every day person dealing with the hardships of life. The music gently crescendos alongside LouLou's emotive singing, as if they both draw strength from each other to keep going and to put that unwavering sense of belief out into the world. 
  • A Christmas Night To Remember ~ this peppy, finger-click groove is a delightfully chiming sleigh ride of a pop song with The Mamas requisite lovely, layered harmonies. There is a healthy dollop of promise and optimism within those enchanting lyrics that is delivered with an infectious glee. The ladies sing of being with those you love at Christmas, ensuring that you make your memories regardless of the trimmings and trappings around you. It is all so charming and sing-along that you can't help but get caught up in the enticing, melodic invitation.
  • River ~ ah the poignant reverie of Joni Mitchell's poetic ballad is always an enchanting treat. With a lilting piano accompaniment and soulful vocals, this stripped back arrangement allows the lyrics and nuanced singing to shine through. When they texture their lush tones over each over, it is beautiful moment that you can't help but feel Joni would be proud of. The sorrowful regret of "I made my baby cry" is so desolate that it will crack even the scroogiest of demeanours. Utterly mesmerising.
  • I Won't Make A Wish At All ~ who hasn't sat gazing at the fairy lights on the tree, musing about the Christmases gone by that seemed just that little bit more wondrous than the one you are living through? We probably aren't as sonorous as the mellifluous sound of Ashley Hayne's timeless singing of this elegiac lullaby. It takes me back to the halcyon days of Motown when songs like this would regularly top the charts. This defies fads and eschews trends to just an instantly evergreen song that will last throughout the years.
  • Another Holiday ~ the final song on the EP is a sumptuous song with riveting guitar and an insightful vocal performance from Dinah. The hammond organ dances alongside the shimmering harmonies, crafting a score that is soothing and reflective. Dinah bends each note to her will, imbuing it with just the right amount of passion to give it an impact that will linger long after the last note has faded away. It is a fine finale and makes you want to hit repeat to experience it all over again.
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