Christmas 2011 ~ A Very Harmonious Christmas

Just in case there was any doubt, I have checked and am pleased to confirm that, yes, this is still the most wonderful time of the year. Phew. To celebrate the reaffirmation of this fact, I just added peppermint to my venti white chocolate mocha at starbucks, which was excessively delicious in the extreme. To add to this feeling of floating like a snowflake through the merriment of festivemasness, I've still got brillo new seasonal music to share with you. HURRAH I HEAR YOU CRY...

ONLY MEN ALOUD ~ IN FESTIVE MOOD:

There is something largely appealing to me about a group of decent looking fellas all dressed ins suits, looking dapper and having a singalong. It's even more impressive when their voices blend together like hazelnut and hot chocolate to melt into an altogether swooning aural sensation of vocal bliss. That's what you get with super choir Only Men Aloud. And after two frankly quite entertaining non-Christmas albums, it's time for them to turn their pipes onto Christmas classics and imbue some frivolity into these chilly pre-25th days. And what an uplifting, feel good romp of a good time it is. It kicks off with one of my most very favourite seasonal songs - It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year. It's delivered with a blast of perky delight, precision vocals and a lush layered affect that has become their trademark sound. Their vocal bell chimes are particularly sensational. And there's more upbeat magnificence wending your way on tracks like Sleigh Ride receiving a horn infused kick; & Santa Baby perhaps the most group flirtatiousness you'll ever experience outside a party where you drop your keys in a bowl... There's an effortless charm tinged with sadness on the perennial Last Christmas in addition to some beautiful sombre arrangements of more secular tracks like O Holy Night (my second fave traditional carol behind When A Child Is Born) and a jaw dropping, hauntingly stunning In The Bleak Midwinter. It's all wrapped up with a soaring medley of Rule The World-Viva La Vida-Everybody Wants To Rule The World that just sends your spirit flying and has you hitting the repeat button over and over again on a track that can be enjoyed all your round. A tremendous album; thoroughly enjoyable :)

If you like this, try these harmonious treats...

• The Bandana Splits ~ A Wonderful Christmas Time: new (to me) girl group trio on the block, the aptly named Bandana Splits have managed to blend some lovely Andrews Sisters wartime harmonies with 50s doo-wop style and a smidgeon of current indie-pop relevance to create an enchanting blend of music that is both invigorating and engaging. While you can find lots of music available on their website (including a downbeat cover of Every Day Is Like Sunday), they have embraced December with a cover of the Paul McCartney yuletide classic that is not only free to download, but has a splendid *embrace-the-merriment* video to go along with it too. I feel a new obsession brewing...
• Il Volo ~ Christmas Favourites: The teen G4 of the popera world have whipped out a whole EP of their most beloved Christmas songs. It includes two sterling versions of Silent Night (one in English, the other in traditional german), a playful Jingle Bell Rock-Let It Snow Medley and, my fave, a stirring duet with Pia Toscano on The Christmas Song that glows with orchestral elegance. Quite lovely.

Il Volo - Christmas Favorites by Interscope Records

Do click here for a post about harmonious Christmas tunes I did last year (also featuring Only Men Aloud!!)