Wednesday, 9 December 2020

Mateo Oxley - Mistletoe (Christmas Acoustics)


17 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Stream Mistletoe here (Spotify)

Daniel Boys' Christmas credentials are not in any doubt. He sang Ave Maria beautifully on the Christmas In New York project; released his own Christmas Lullaby single and is forever part of the Nativity! musical/movie franchise. So when he recommends Mateo Oxley's new seasonal EP, Mistletoe, you better believe I am going to pay attention. Across 4 carefully curated classics, Mateo uses just the power of his voice and a lilting acoustic accompaniments to infuse his own experiences into the songs. He lovingly deconstructs these songs to recreate them with a tangible emotion that wraps around the listener like a much needed hug. It is 15 minutes of mesmerising beauty - and, as this is the type of project that deserves word of mouth, you should listen, appreciate and then tell everyone you've ever met about Mistletoe...
  • The Fairytale of New York ~ by turning this into a solo number, Mateo condenses all the poignant reflection and melancholy of the song into an aching soliloquy of loneliness and regret. With an elegiac piano accompaniment and a shimmering of sorrowful strings, Mateo is so immersed in singing the words that, rather than him telling you how to feel, you feel every moment with him. You get the impression that he sings not because it will make it better, but because it is too hard to keep the emotions inside; and, with that, comes the beauty of the performance.
  • One More Sleep ~ the Leona Lewis contemporary classic tones down the exuberance of the original yet loses none of the joyful hope. Mateo sings with a tender yearning that lets him savour each word he sings. It is that narrative that sparkles alongside his nuanced vocal, enhanced by lush textured backing harmonies. It is not just a celebration of a loved one coming home, but a way to cope with the hole in your soul until the reunion occurs. Mateo's countdown is like melodic brush strokes of art on a canvas of anticipation. 
  • Walking In The Air ~ I'll confess that this wasn't one of my regular holiday playlist favourites but this version has unlocked a different perspective for me. The whimsical enchantment of the lyrics take on new life through Mr Oxley's smooth delivery whilst the layered instrumental shimmers like an ornate music box. Crescendo moments give you genuine goosebumps that add wonder to a performance also saturated in Christmas magic. It all leaves you with a blissful calm that lingers long after the song has faded.
  • Show Me The Magic ~ I'm enough of a Christmas scholar to know this Jamie Cullum composition from the first few notes. As a romantic raconteur, Mateo is a finger-clicking delight. With warm guitar that swathes Mateo's voice, the song builds in emphasis and tempo as if buoyed by the words being sung, before it all coalesces into a soaring finale. It doesn't need all the whistles and bells; the symbiotic relationship between voice and instrument sends this past 7th heaven to rest on cloud nine. What a treat.
**Ghosts of Christmas past**
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