“Suckers for all kinds of Christmas songs,” Emmy and Tim have rooted through the 70s glam classics and 80s guilty pleasures at the bottoms of their stockings to conjure this collection of seasonal ditties. Aided by talented chums (including Bloc Party’s Matt Tong on rhythm section), the record is an uncompromising indie festive excursion, to tame even the most resolute scrooges. Mud-imposter ‘Christmas Moon’ swoons and sways with nostalgic-enthusiasm and the Wheeler-fronted ‘Christmas Day (I Wish I Was Surfing)’’s pop punk makes for a rousing, yuletide power pop anthem, while album highlight ‘Home For The Holidays’ is the perfect ode to that someone special you only ever see frost-bitten in a crowded boozer on the 24th.
Like overloading on Christmas Pud, ‘This Is Christmas’ could get sickly pretty quick, but for the wry wit and genuine passion that runs through it. And in the same way you stomach that saccharine sweet drop of port your Nan’s had festering in the loft because “it’s Christmas”, you can’t help but revel in the consequent frivolous jollity it stokes. Well, until until the January blues swallow you whole, obviously. But for now, Merry Christmas, everyone!
James West