Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (Digital/CD/Cassette)
Today is shaping up to be quite a day for excellent Christmas releases. Couldn’t have been last week eh???? Some of us have Christmas mixes, and we have the absurd idea that we might send some to folks in the mail (if I can get off my butt to do so). Well, first up is this excellent 2-track single from French indiepop band En Attendant Ana, En Attendant Ana Sings Christmas. These two tracks are covers done right. First up is “Close Your Mouth Because Christmas is the Day”, which takes both of the Free Design’s classic underground Christmas singles “Close Your Mouth (It’s Christmas) / Christmas Is The Day” and sews them together beautifully. They are mixed up with bits of “Carol of the Bells” as well… and it is… rather amazing. An unexpected song(s) choice, beautifully done.
The second single is a cover of the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.” I’ve mentioned before that this year is turning out to be a good year for “Last Christmas” covers… well… perhaps we’ve got to start talking about 2024 and these excellent “Fairytale” covers as well. The orchestration and the phrasing of this cover are like no other version I’ve heard before – they really have made this song feel new. (Of note, they do use the word in this song – so depending on where you stand on it’s use, take note). The ending is absolutely SPECTACULAR… so interesting and delightful, that I don’t want to ruin it for anyone here. So get going and listen to these songs.
Bottom Line: En Attendant Ana does exactly what one should with a cover… made them feel new. A top release of the season.
Christmas Underground 