published: 7 /
1 /
2023
In 'Bandcamp Explorer' Mark Rowland examines some of the best Christmas songs available through Bandcamp.
Article
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.
Article Links:-
https://christmas66606.bandcamp.com/al
https://christmasaguilera.bandcamp.com
https://harpistkt.bandcamp.com/album/t
https://lordphobos.bandcamp.com/album/
https://alexreed.bandcamp.com/album/wa
https://wiaiwya.bandcamp.com/album/sil
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