( track listing and comments )Are You Gonna Stop the White Xmas – MashJefTixXx
This is a fun and catchy mashup from a whole delicious album of Christmas-themed mashups (which you can find on Bandcamp).
Heads Will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Just one of the songs used for closing credits on
Agatha All Along, Marvel's TV series with a cast that was mostly women aged 40 or over and with definite queer tendencies. Later on you'll get a cover version of the show's main theme.
No Church in the Wild – Phil Manzanera & Sonia Bernardo The original song was by Jay-Z and Kanye West, and sampled a riff from Manzanera's 'K-Scope'. According to Manzanera, his share of the revenue from that song made him more money than 50 years of Roxy Music royalties... He recorded a cover version, which is more to my own taste.
When the Devil Starts Crying – John Mayall
RIP John Mayall, whose music I've been listening to since I discovered the blues in my teens. This isn't his greatest track (I'm partial to 'Double Crossing Time', 'All My Love' and 'Super Natural') but it has the advantage of being less-known.
Little Cat Xmas – COAMB Every year I listen eagerly to a 'New Christmas Songs' playlist on Spotify, curated by.a Dutch music fan. This year, 'Little Cat Xmas' hooked me instantly.
Fun Fact: COAMB stands for 'Cougar on a Meth Binge'.
Caesar on a TV Screen – The Last Dinner Party
A band I saw live this year (at
Hammersmith Odeon Eventim Apollo), and what a joyous occasion it was! All-female rock band, hailed by Brian May as 'British rock royalty'.
Sharaf – Sahra Halgan
Also seen live this year, in the inauspicious setting of a Baptist church in Walthamstow. Another splendid gig -- I love the pairing of Somalian folk song and rock/jazz band! -- and I danced with Sahra Halgan when she came down into the audience.
How Not to Drown – CHVRCHES & Robert Smith
Heard this recently, liked it a lot, didn't register that it was Robert Smith...
Psychomodo – Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Another recent death to mourn. The Psychomodo album is one I know by heart, since I discovered it at an impressionable age in the local record library, taped it and played it til the cassette wore out. (Younger readers can google 'record', 'cassette'...) Harley's mannered voice can be vastly irritating but I love his lyrics.
Santa’s Making Moves – Kat Quinn
Stereotypical Christmas song (it starts with bells!) redeemed by being bouncy and danceable.
Red Wine Supernova – Chappell Roan
I came late to the Chappell Roan party and only discovered her music this year. This is a fun queer flirty pop song, and probably banned in lots of places.
Dopamine – Laurettes
Their debut album is out this year and while none of the tracks wowed me quite as much as 'Witches' (see last year's CD) I love the sound.
Netta Perseus – Lankum
Another band seen live this year, at Hackney Empire (which does not believe in comfortable seating). They have immense stage presence, which fits the solemnity of some of their songs.
Heilige Nacht – Prins S en de Geit
Another discovery from this year's 'New Christmas Songs' playlist. It's in Dutch, but it really reminded me of the KLF and Prolapse.
The Ballad of the Witches’ Road – MilkyyMelodies &co
The theme song from
Agatha All Along, already available in lots of official versions (true crime, 70s rock, live at D23, dance remix etc): it's also been covered by a plethora of bands and artists. I liked this version a lot.
Dark December – The Unthanks
A band I will have seen live by Christmas -- at Cadogan Hall on 21st December. This track handily provided this year's CD title, and is one of the more accessible tracks on their new album,
In Winter.
Warplane – Heartworm
Heard on 6Music, and elsewhere. Oh, look up there / We'll be free / Oh, look up there / We'll be fine.
Oh, if only...
Hail the Holly King – Inkubus Sukkubus
Gothtastic Solstice classic to close!
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