Sunday, 12 December 2021

Sarah Reeves - More The Merrier


2 WEEKS UNTIL BOXING DAY!

Buy-stream More The Merrier here (external link)

Well, isn't this just delightful? I've reviewed Christmas music for 60 days from October 26th every year since 2013; I'm 46 days into this year's daily countdown of new releases and I still find myself charmed by an artist's ability to breathe their own personality into time-tested tunes (as well as conjure up lush new festive odysseys to feast on). Sarah Reeves new holiday album, The More The Merrier, swathes her engaging voice in charming arrangements that add nuance to the stories she melodically recounts. What really stands out is how much Sarah seems to love the most wonderful time of the year - and it is her sense of fun and reverence for the season that sparkles as brightly as the songs...
  • The More The Merrier ~ the opening track is a genuine treat. A jazz infused instrumental is infused with chiming bells and a sumptuous array of textured sound that seems to be purely designed to make you feel joyful AND triumphant. All the excitement and anticipation for the big day is wrapped up in Sarah's vivid lyrics and gleeful delivery - where everything coalesces to fizz as vibrantly as a glass of holiday bubbly. 
  • Holly Jolly Christmas ~ the suave sophistication continues with this playful romp. Buoyant piano riffs dance gaily alongside sweeping strings and a perky percussive groove. Sarah is effusive in her delivery, letting her voice shimmy flawlessly alongside the music. She imbues each word as if telling a tale to the kids, but in a style the adults can get on board with. As timeless as if it traversed the passages of time from the set of a Doris Day holiday-Hollywood musical.
  • Winter Wonderland (featuring Clark Beckham) ~ as you may well have worked out by now, the clever arrangements are as essential as the lyrics to painting the Christmas card scene of these timeless classics. Bringing Clark Beckham along as her duet partner gives this a cosy, romantic vibe yet with a captivating innocence that oft gets lost in this all too forward world of ours. Their voices blend like honey melting into hot chocolate.
  • Sentimental ~ call her romantic and hopeless, but if you do you are going to have to say the exact same to me. This gently shuffling number shines a gloriously descriptive light on the wondrous nature of the holidays and that magic and happiness that you can find if you just look for it. There is a lilting calm to the music that helps halt the crazy of everything going on in the world outside your window - a blissful haven from the rigour of every day life.
  • My Favourite Things ~ I'm not sure when this Sound of Music standard became associated with the holidays but I am here for it. This is a delectably dramatic interpretation, with an intensity to it that makes it the best Bond theme for many a year. The theatricality plays well with the lyrics and Sarah is a brilliant chanteuse, ably aided and abetted by that talented group of musicians she surrounds herself with.
  • Go Tell It On The Mountain ~ the rousing gospel inspired classic is not less thrilling or euphoric in the musical setting of this opus. Blasts of horn, guitar and keyboard romps are an invigorating hand-clap alternative to the traditional arrangement and the celebratory nature of the song is elevated because of this. It is mighty hard not to join in what should always be a convivial sing-along and add your voice to the jubilation.
  • Snow Globe ~  More seductive romantic charm is delivered by this whimsical song. Perhaps Love, Actually is right and Christmas is the time to declare your love. If only we could all convey it as mellifluously and gracefully as Sarah does on this mid-tempo ballad that is as warming as any crackling fire. Would even make the Grinch's heart grow two sizes just by listening to a song that describes what we all yearn to have/appreciate.
  • The Greatest Gift ~ the album comes to a close with a serene finale that encapsulates all the emotions from the musical journey that Ms Reeves has taken you on. There is a mesmerising majesty to the song that makes its effect on you so enormous even Briony (Arthur Christmas) would have trouble wrapping it up in a bow. No need - this is one to immerse yourself in and then tell everyone you've ever met about it. 
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