Friday, 26 November 2021

Gary Barlow - The Dream Of Christmas


29 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy-stream The Dream of Christmas here (external link)

30 years after he posed in a Santa hat with the Take That lads for Smash Hits magazine (and one year after teaching us how to have an Incredible Christmas), Mr Gary Barlow finally gifts us with a full album of festive gems to guide us through the holiday season this year (and for many years to come. A Christmas album is for life not just the year it was released). Looking suitably seasonal on the album's cover art (surely on his way to audition to be the next Father Christmas), the whopping sixteen track album (if you plump for the deluxe edition which you absolutely should) delivers an array of Barlow originals alongside his take on the Yuletide standards. It is a pure delight from start to finish. Gary, my man, you are a national treasure...
  • The Dream of Christmas ~ like the opening of a music box, this charming lullaby sets the scene for the Gary Barlow Christmas Experience. A whimsical ballad about the magical nature of the holidays, it is exactly the type of song that used to be in the running for the Christmas Number One - and wouldn't it be incredible if this year hope and enchantment won out with a nation swooning to this instantly timeless classic?
  • Sleigh Ride ~ it is a very Crooner Christmas with the Big Band in the house; Gary is giving rat pack realness, finger clicking his way through this suave and icy cool arrangement of the peppy classic. There is no rushing on this journey - the playful piano works in perfect partnership with Gary to savour every moment on this clearly detailed reconstruction that comes across so merry and bright.
  • Wonderful Christmastime ~ the Paul McCartney standard is reinvented with off kilter beats and a shimmering vibe that makes you feel like you are skating on a lake. The brassy horns, chiming bells and sweeping strings make this an elegant and graceful take; meanwhile, the layered and joyous harmonies make it feel like a lost moment from some opulent Hollywood movie musical from the 50s. Gather round!
  • How Christmas Is Supposed To Be (featuring Sheridan Smith) ~ if you ever wondered what happened after the couple in Baby It's Cold Outside decided to get together, Gary and Sheridan give you the answer on this wry, humorous duet. The holidays can be tough on a relationship and each facet of emotion is explored with a vibrant sass. If the engaging nature of the vocals and music are anything to go by, these two crazy kids will end up joyful and triumphant.
  • This Christmas ~ Gary really is loving music played by humans and it is all for the betterment of the selection box of songs on this album. There is a decadence to the instrumentals that are as much a part of the narrative as his lead vocal. Here, a smooth soulful vibe is enhanced by those delightful girl group backing vocals that provide textured majesty. Knowing when to blast horns and gospel infusions alongside the key change make this a true gift.
  • Come On Christmas ~ "nothing heals the soul like Christmas time" sings Gary in the opening bars. He's not wrong, but he recognises that when times are tough it is the salvation that can make you feel glad from head to mistletoe. There is a breezy island lilt to the reggae-tinged instrumental that makes this an instant mood boost. Sing along to those relatable lyrics and immerse yourself in that feel-good chorus.
  • My Dear Acquaintance ~ like a sequel to Auld Lang Syne, this is an ode to embracing the hope and opportunity of what lies ahead. There is definitely a hint of ABBA influence in the composition (never a bad thing) and the sophisticated instrumental gives it an intimate feel that helps magnify the message of the lyrics. Gary sings with a heartfelt sincerity, so much so that you feel every ounce of optimism alongside him.
  • Winter Wonderland (featuring The Puppini Sisters) ~ I adore the Puppini Sisters (who have their own Christmas EP out this year - see here) so it is a thrill to have them give their glorious harmonies to this exhilarating cover version. It is a match made in heaven (or at least the North Pole) and Gary gives them ample time to add a little sparkle and shine to his glittering recounting of the snowy, romantic outdoors.
  • The Colder It Feels (featuring Sheku Kanneh-Mason) ~ for anyone who has ever lost someone and feels the loneliness so much more intensely during the Christmas period, this raw, honest ballad is for you. There is an elegiac melancholy to the lyrics but tinged with the indomitable human ability to believe in something better ahead. Sheku's cello solo speaks volumes on its own and as a poignant addition that adds to the emotion.
  •  Merry Christmas Everyone ~ the Slade song sees Gary in a reflective mood, lost in the reverie of the thoughts of Christmas gone by and the state of the world today. The piano-vocal ballad style introduction really lets the lyrics breathe while glimmering bells and chimes twinkle like the brightest lights on the most ornate tree. Illuminates the words in a wondrous new way, particularly during the finale crescendo that will leave you tingling.
  • A Child's Christmas In Wales (featuring Aled Jones) ~ I love a story and Gary is the most melodic of narrators; ably accompanied by Aled Jones whose expressive voice intertwines with Gary like tinsel round the tree. I particularly like how he sings in his native Welsh, proving that music breaks down boundaries and is universal for everyone to enjoy. The Dream of Christmas is alive and well in this song.
  • I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm ~ the deluxe version starts with the White Christmas musical number and Gary transports us back to times gone by with this grandiose orchestral version that feels as breath taking as him sweeping you around the ballroom dance floor. There is a cheeky flirtatious nature to the horn blasts and piano riffs - cuddle up baby, because this is as radiant as a roaring fireplace.
  • I Believe In Father Christmas ~ both Jamie Cullum and Gary have covered this song this year; Greg Lake originally wrote it to detail his cynicism at the season but over the years it has been adopted as a hopeful beacon for all those who seek it out. It is a whimsical fairytale in Gary's hands and would make even the most cynical of hearts believe all over again. It's Miracle on 34th Street is song form. I believe, Gary, I believe (disguise or not).
  • In The Bleak Mid-winter ~ the album's only real carol is delivered with the respect and reverence it deserves. There is a mesmerising effect by having just piano and vocal, letting the solemn words breathe. As the orchestra gently buffers his voice, there is a serenity and calm that comes with the music that helps the crazy of the world outside pause - if only just for the time the song plays. And sometimes that is all we need.
  • It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year ~ one of my favourite Christmas songs ever; and this was not what I was expecting. Usually it is full of bells, jingles and over the top vocal arrangements. Stripping it back to a mid-tempo, swaying ballad casts it in a new light, enabling the listener to appreciate the whirlwind of holidays in their own way. Beautifully sung and exquisitely delivered. 
  • Christmas Sweater ~ I'm not sure when ugly Christmas sweaters came back into vogue but I'm not mad about it; neither am I mad at Gary's decision to end the album with this triumphant, party atmosphere, sing-along number. It has whistling, Madness-style piano hooks and a hook so enormous it can't be contained. Play next to Robbie's Bad Sharon and get your festivities going. Then return to the start and live The Dream Of Christmas all over again.
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