Seasonal Songs
Songs relecting midwinter festivities
The Fatea office also serves as a home for our weekly Along The Tracks show on Blues & Roots Radio and as a rule singles and Eps have generally gone in that direction whilst Fatea generally concentrates on albums and live reviews for our full length feature, but with more artists going back down the single route to keep themselves in the public eye, we thought it was time to reflect that in our offerings and as rules are made to be broken or at the very least adapted, welcome to the Singles Round Up.
The Marsh Family - In The Bleak
www.marshfamilysongs.com
No the Marsh Family haven't missed a word off the title, it's making a point. "In The Bleak" is yet another biting take on the state of things. The song captures the sentiment and a contemporary take on the melody of the carol, but has a trademark take on the lyrics. This aims both barrels at the grinch nature of the government and then builds a message of hope and help to get things better. It's also a fundraiser for Save The Children. This is the way to do charity singles, check out the details on the The Marsh Family website. NK
Sam Scherdel ft. Harri Larkin - Fairytale Of New York
www.facebook.com/samscherdel
Full disclosure time. Despite being a huge fan of Kirsty McColl I've always found the original version of this to be one of the most grating of Christmas songs. Scherdel does a passable Shane MacGowan impression but is a far better singer. With the fine Sheffield trio Harri Larkin on board this is a huge step forward. I like their calmer way with the song which lets the witty lyrics breath better than the original and this will be making the Christmas day playlist ahead of the Pogues. TM
KC Jones - It's Christmas Again
www.kcjmusic.co.uk
Proof that Christmas songs can be great. A gentle folk ballad from the Nuneaton based husband and wife duo. Karen Killeen-Jones writes a good tune and has the Christmas evening wind down feel captured to perfection. The chorus is one of those you can see people swaying along to at the local folk club. A good song, and it's a shame it will only get brought out in the festive season. It deserves to be heard all year round. TM
Marina Florance - Love Came Down At Christmas ft Pauline Alexander
www.marinaflorance.comLove Came Down at Christmas is a poem by Christina Rossetti. This is a lovely duet with Pauline Alexander and Mark Jolley's Violin piece to round it off. This has a baroque feel to it. I've not come across Florance before but will be looking closer. In the meantime, this is another for the quiet bits of Christmas. If you want to escape the clamour play this. TM
Bianca De Leon - Stalker Santa
biancamusic.com
Texas Blues singer songwriter has come up with a "humourous" single for the festive period. She says: "I've never been a fan of Christmas. I was thinking about it one day and realized how creepy it is to send your kids off to sit on some strange old man's lap. Some people get arrested for that. Then, to add insult to injury, he steals all your whiskey and cookies! Merry Christmas all!" It's hardly a new joke, perhaps it's funnier in Texas… TM
DiElle - The Best Gift Is Love
dielle.bandcamp.com
If you have been reading Fatea's singles reviews over the last few months you will recall that we have been fans of Di Elle's recent work, and here's her take on a Christmas song. This is well up to standard with her One Girl, One Guitar album. A quick look round her Bandcamp shows she has done several Christmas themed songs so a Di Elle Christmas playlist could make a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. TM
Dave Sutherland - Nineteen Twenty-Four
www.thedavesutherland.co.uk
A Christmas single from London singer songwriter Dave Sutherland. He operates at the country end of Americana, and this is a ballad enhanced by the sort of brass band sound which pops up at this time of year, and by Lowri Evans' harmonies. A good story telling song that won't drop away with the pine needles. Sutherland was deservedly named UK Male Country Singer of the Year in 2022,a nd if you don't know his music start here. TM
Jim Chorley - But Then Came Snow
www.jimchorley.com
Chorley says that this is "not exactly a Christmas single but seeing as it's being released in December and has snow in the title it's as close to one as I've ever got to releasing..." There is a sense of contained energy about this quiet song. You feel it could easily burst out into a high energy tune at any moment. The closest it gets is an electric guitar section in the middle. It has that mix of delicacy and power that the Cowboy Junkies have. He's right about it not being a Christmas song, more a great, bleak November tune. TM
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Corsair is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.
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