Christmas Crackers? - Bandcamp Explorer
by Mark Rowland
published: 7 / 1 / 2023

intro
In 'Bandcamp Explorer' Mark Rowland examines some of the best Christmas songs available through Bandcamp.
It’s Christmas time! With logs on the fire and gifts on the tree (presumably very light ones so as not to pull the tree down), let’s see what Bandcamp offers up when we put the word ‘Christmas’ into the search bar. The first thing that comes up, surprisingly, are two separate punk bands named Christmas, one from Saarland in Germany and the other from Olympia in Washington. It’s probably unfair to compare the two, particularly as within the wheelhouse of punk, they’re like chalk and cheese. The German Christmas is fairly straightforward hardcore punk. If you’re into that sort of thing, their 2020 album ‘Hot Nights in Saint Vandal’ is probably the place to start. I personally preferred the discordant twang of the seemingly sadly defunct Olympia band, who don’t appear to have put anything out since 2011. Their self-titled album – perhaps their only album – is well worth a listen. It also brings up another seemingly inactive artist, Julie Christmas, whose album, ‘The Bad Wife’, came out in 2010. Her voice is very powerful, her songs of the angular indie rock variety, albeit with a sense of epicness not often found within the genre. A very pleasant surprise. But surely we need to find something that’s actually about Christmas? Enter Christmas Aguilera, an indie folk duo that puts out a charity Christmas single every year (as well as the odd album. This year’s offering, ‘Once Upon a Time’, is a slightly melancholic wistful look at Christmasses long past. Its tinkling piano line, gentle bells and timpani captures the feeling of Christmas classics of the past too. All proceeds go to Shelter, so it’s worth a purchase. Speaking of classic, let’s look at a classical music offering; a lovely selection of traditional carols played on solo harp by Kristan Toczko, based in Ontario, Canada. ‘Tis the Season: Christmas Music for Solo Harp’ does exactly what it says on the tin, but these sparse, beautiful arrangements of ‘We Three Kings’ and ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ would make a lovely, relaxing soundtrack to quiet evening by the fire, sipping on fine liqueurs. From the same region of Canada comes the first of two leftfield, humorous electronic release. ‘A Very Phobos Christmas’ by Lord Phobos recreates a selection of Christmas using various corny electronic sounds, including bleeping synth lines, vocoders and some twangy guitar lines. It’s not something you’re going to shove on during the family Christmas dinner, but it’s good fun. On the second electronic release, New York’s Kibble is celebrating the season by parodying The Normal’s ‘Warm Leatherette’ on his release, ‘Warm Fireplace’. Not much to say about this one really, other than that it’s quite amusing. Finally, London indie rock band Silver Biplanes has covered ‘Silver Bells’ in a lovely new wave/80s indie style. It’s a pleasant listen, and a good fit on your hipster indie Christmas playlist.
Also In Bandcamp Explorer
Bandcamp Explorer (2021)
Bandcamp Explorer (2021)
Bandcamp Explorer (2021)
Bandcamp Explorer (2021)
Bandcamp Explorer (2021)
Article Links:-
https://christmas66606.bandcamp.com/album/hot-nights-in-saint-vandalhttps://christmasaguilera.bandcamp.com/track/once-upon-a-time
https://harpistkt.bandcamp.com/album/tis-the-season-christmas-music-fo
https://lordphobos.bandcamp.com/album/a-very-phobos-christmas
https://alexreed.bandcamp.com/album/warm-fireplace
https://wiaiwya.bandcamp.com/album/silver-bells
Picture Gallery:-





bandcamp
most viewed articles
current edition
John McKay - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Cathode Ray - Interview
Spear Of Destiny - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chris Wade - Interview
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Allan Clarke - Interview
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Manic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Little Simz - Lotus
HAIM - I Quit
Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart