The Retrospective Soundtrack Players
Album: It's A Wonderful Christmas Carol
Label: Xtra Mile
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.therspuk.com

If you've never heard of them before, the RSP are a fluid (but currently six piece) what you might term art-folk-pop outfit from Southsea who, written by Kyle Evans, make albums based around their favourite films and books. Having already done Cool Hand Luke and Catcher In The Rye, they now turn their attention to what they describe as a festive mash-up of Dickens and Capra that borrows their themes of greed, loneliness poverty and redemption.

Introduced by a brief instrumental title track theme, it's an intriguing and highly enjoyable concept alternative to the usual festive albums with the songs flitting from the tumblingly melodic retro pop of I'm Sleeping This Christmas (think of a less overwrought Roy Wood) and the strumalong busker sway of It's A Wonderful Life (a poignantly amusing failed musician's lament that has thematic companion piece in the Spector meets The Beautiful South of Bah Humbug) to the jubilantly frisky Every Time A Bell Rings An Angel Gets Its Wings and the piano backed slow waltz No Man Is Poor Who Has Friends with its swelling brass and chorale swayalong finale.

Sandwiched in-between are three numbers that form a sort of EP of their own in as much as the titles specifically refer to Scrooge's spectral visitors, each track featuring its own label mate special guest as the ghost. Chris T-T takes the role on the slow swaying break-up song For The Ghost of Christmas Past (aka I'm A Coward), the uptempo rocking punky folk The Ghost of Christmas Present (aka No Ego) features Frank Turner and forlorn piano ballad The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come (I Can't Be Anybody Else) is achingly haunted by Ben Marwood.

As well as the names mentioned, I'm also put in mind of Gerry Colvin and Squeeze while there's also a hint of Dave Brubeck on Clarence, The Guardian Angel; however you don't need comparisons to enjoy this on its own terms. Other than the source material inspiration, this really has nothing to do with Christmas, but when the combined assault of George Michael, Slade, Mariah Carey, et al, proves too much, this will go down very nicely with a mince pie and a mulled wine.

Mike Davies