“A Los Campesinos! Christmas,” released Dec. 8, is the perfect holiday EP for people who are tired of old, recycled Christmas carols. The six-track compilation contains only one cover—“Lonely This Christmas,” from Mud—and five original songs that bring a new take on the long-established Christmas album.
When artists run out of ideas for original music, they sometimes turn to the idea of a holiday album and crank out a couple covers of ancient tunes. This is not the case with “A Los Campesinos! Christmas.” A distinctive wintery theme pervades the tracks, but the overall result is the opposite of a cliche album.
The group formed while studying at Cardiff University in 2006 and they have continued to enhance their sound since their 2008 debut album, Hold on Now, Youngster…, perfecting a mix of happy indie dance music with an undercurrent of darkness.
Lead singer, Gareth Campesino! (they all claim the same surname), brings an energetic, upbeat vibe on songs like “When Christmas Comes” and “Kindle A Flame In Her Heart.” These cheerful indie songs could easily hold a place on a standard record since the only hint of a Christmas theme is in the content of the lyrics. On “When Christmas Comes,” Gareth sings “Christmas eve / Torrential rain / One single snowflake.” Hard to imagine in Wisconsin, eh?
“The Trains Don’t Run (It’s Christmas Day)” slows down the record and emphasizes the beauty of a simple Christmas celebration. Gareth sings, “I wouldn’t have it any other way/ White snow may turn to gray/ But the Christmas sky is blue.”
Los Campesinos!’ updated version of classic Christmas song “Lonely This Christmas” cuts out the dorky “bum, bum, bums” of Mud’s original version, but keeps the spoken message in the middle. Gareth’s vocals add a sense of roughness to the undercurrent of sadness, yet despite the despondent sentiments, “Lonely This Christmas” ends the “A Los Campesinos! Christmas” EP with a sense of melancholy, but also a subtle tranquility.
By freshening up an overdone scheme and adding their own spin, Los Campesinos! create a memorable and enjoyable Christmas EP that could be listened to at any time of the year.
Rating: A-
