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Hot on the heels of She & Him, Ash frontman Tim Wheeler and his singer/songwriter girlfriend, Emmy the Great, further add to the rather niche genre of indie pop boy/girl duo yuletide records with their unique collaborative effort, This Is Christmas. Written during a particularly heavy snowstorm that saw them stranded in Sussex following six canceled flights, and completed in New York in the midst of Hurricane Irene, its 11 tracks may have been conceived in rather fraught conditions, but there's little evidence of it here. Inspired by the seasonal Wall of Sound productions of the '60s, the glam rock Christmas number ones of the '70s, and the synth-led festive guilty pleasures of the '80s, the pair's first full-length joint venture (which also includes Bloc Party's Matt Tong on drums) is a resolutely feel-good homage that unashamedly revels in sentimentality, good old-fashioned nostalgia, and the odd knowing wink. Indeed, the fact that the album was originally to be released under the pseudonym Sleigher is indicative of the record's playful nature, whether it's the eerie "Silent Night" intro that opens the gothic alt-pop of "Zombie Christmas," the cheerleader-style chanting on the quick burst of CSS-esque art rock that is "Jesus the Reindeer," or the brilliantly corny "Deck the Halls" guitar solo that closes the sugary-sweet cover of "Marshmallow World." But This Is Christmas is just as magical when it steps into more heartwarming territory. "Sleigh Me," the first song they ever co-wrote together, is a gorgeously melancholic if slightly slushy folk-pop number that unexpectedly recalls the Beautiful South at their most wistful, the Spector-ish "(Don't Call Me) Mrs. Christmas" is a delightfully charming tale that deals with the trials and tribulations of being Santa Claus' other half, while "Christmas Moon" is an authentically vintage slice of '60s doo wop packed with plinky piano chords, ghostly backing vocals, and luscious strings, courtesy of film composer Ilan Eshkeri. Elsewhere, the Beach Boys-influenced garage rock of "Christmas Day (I Wish I Was Surfing)" is a rare concession to Wheeler's more familiar sound, while the acoustic campfire singalong of closer "See You Next Year" is more in keeping with Emmy the Great's stripped-back sound, but on the whole, this is a different entity entirely from both parties' usual fare. A welcome antidote to this year's more conventional cash-ins from Bublé and Bieber, This Is Christmas is a joyous and affectionate affair that already feels like an instant festive classic.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
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Steve McLaughlin, Engineer - The London Metropolitan Orchestra, Strings - Andy Brown, Conductor - Ilan Eshkeri, Composer, String Arranger - Tim Wheeler, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Lionel Handy, Cello - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Rich Cooper, Engineer - John Mills, Violin - Alison Kelly, Violin - Yuko Inoue, Viola - Joel Hunter, Violin - Tom Kemp, Violin - Emma-Lee Moss, Guitar, Vocals - Richard Harwood, Cello - Jason Elliott, Engineer - Fiona McNaught, Violin - Tim Boyce, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Steve McLaughlin, Engineer - The London Metropolitan Orchestra, Strings - Andy Brown, Conductor - Ilan Eshkeri, String Arranger - Matt Tong, Drums - Tim Wheeler, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Carl Sigman, Composer - Peter De Rose, Composer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Lionel Handy, Cello - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Rich Cooper, Engineer - John Mills, Violin - Alison Kelly, Violin - Yuko Inoue, Viola - Joel Hunter, Violin - Tom Kemp, Violin - Emma-Lee Moss, Guitar, Vocals - Richard Harwood, Cello - Jason Elliott, Engineer - Fiona McNaught, Violin - Tim Boyce, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Steve McLaughlin, Engineer - The London Metropolitan Orchestra, Strings - Andy Brown, Conductor - Ilan Eshkeri, String Arranger - Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Lionel Handy, Cello - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Rich Cooper, Engineer - John Mills, Violin - Alison Kelly, Violin - Yuko Inoue, Viola - Joel Hunter, Violin - Tom Kemp, Violin - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Richard Harwood, Cello - Jason Elliott, Engineer - Fiona McNaught, Violin - Tim Boyce, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Oliver Kraus, String Arranger, Strings - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Euan Hinshelwood, Guitar - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Tim Boyce, Engineer, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company 2012 ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Matt Tong, Drums - Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Tim Boyce, Engineer, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Steve McLaughlin, Engineer - The London Metropolitan Orchestra, Strings - Andy Brown, Conductor - Ilan Eshkeri, String Arranger - Matt Tong, Drums - Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Roger Rosenberg, Baritone Saxophone - Lionel Handy, Cello - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Rich Cooper, Engineer - John Mills, Violin - Alison Kelly, Violin - Yuko Inoue, Viola - Joel Hunter, Violin - Tom Kemp, Violin - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Richard Harwood, Cello - Jason Elliott, Engineer - Fiona McNaught, Violin - Tim Boyce, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company 2012 ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Tim Boyce, Engineer, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Steve McLaughlin, Engineer - The London Metropolitan Orchestra, Strings - Andy Brown, Conductor - Ilan Eshkeri, String Arranger - Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Lionel Handy, Cello - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Rich Cooper, Engineer - John Mills, Violin - Alison Kelly, Violin - Yuko Inoue, Viola - Joel Hunter, Violin - Tom Kemp, Violin - Euan Hinshelwood, Guitar - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Richard Harwood, Cello - Jason Elliott, Engineer - Fiona McNaught, Violin - Tim Boyce, Engineer, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Steve McLaughlin, Engineer - The London Metropolitan Orchestra, Strings - Andy Brown, Conductor - Ilan Eshkeri, Engineer - Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Lionel Handy, Cello - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Rich Cooper, Engineer - John Mills, Violin - Alison Kelly, Violin - Yuko Inoue, Viola - Joel Hunter, Violin - Tom Kemp, Violin - Euan Hinshelwood, Guitar - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Richard Harwood, Cello - Jason Elliott, Engineer - Fiona McNaught, Violin - Tim Boyce, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Euan Hinshelwood, Guitar - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Tim Boyce, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Tim Wheeler, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, MainArtist, AdditionalEngineer - Andy Rugg, Guitar - Claudius Mittendorfer, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Emmy The Great, MainArtist - Emma-Lee Moss, Composer, Guitar, Vocals - Tim Boyce, MasteringEngineer
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
Album review
Hot on the heels of She & Him, Ash frontman Tim Wheeler and his singer/songwriter girlfriend, Emmy the Great, further add to the rather niche genre of indie pop boy/girl duo yuletide records with their unique collaborative effort, This Is Christmas. Written during a particularly heavy snowstorm that saw them stranded in Sussex following six canceled flights, and completed in New York in the midst of Hurricane Irene, its 11 tracks may have been conceived in rather fraught conditions, but there's little evidence of it here. Inspired by the seasonal Wall of Sound productions of the '60s, the glam rock Christmas number ones of the '70s, and the synth-led festive guilty pleasures of the '80s, the pair's first full-length joint venture (which also includes Bloc Party's Matt Tong on drums) is a resolutely feel-good homage that unashamedly revels in sentimentality, good old-fashioned nostalgia, and the odd knowing wink. Indeed, the fact that the album was originally to be released under the pseudonym Sleigher is indicative of the record's playful nature, whether it's the eerie "Silent Night" intro that opens the gothic alt-pop of "Zombie Christmas," the cheerleader-style chanting on the quick burst of CSS-esque art rock that is "Jesus the Reindeer," or the brilliantly corny "Deck the Halls" guitar solo that closes the sugary-sweet cover of "Marshmallow World." But This Is Christmas is just as magical when it steps into more heartwarming territory. "Sleigh Me," the first song they ever co-wrote together, is a gorgeously melancholic if slightly slushy folk-pop number that unexpectedly recalls the Beautiful South at their most wistful, the Spector-ish "(Don't Call Me) Mrs. Christmas" is a delightfully charming tale that deals with the trials and tribulations of being Santa Claus' other half, while "Christmas Moon" is an authentically vintage slice of '60s doo wop packed with plinky piano chords, ghostly backing vocals, and luscious strings, courtesy of film composer Ilan Eshkeri. Elsewhere, the Beach Boys-influenced garage rock of "Christmas Day (I Wish I Was Surfing)" is a rare concession to Wheeler's more familiar sound, while the acoustic campfire singalong of closer "See You Next Year" is more in keeping with Emmy the Great's stripped-back sound, but on the whole, this is a different entity entirely from both parties' usual fare. A welcome antidote to this year's more conventional cash-ins from Bublé and Bieber, This Is Christmas is a joyous and affectionate affair that already feels like an instant festive classic.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:30:18
- Main artists: Emmy The Great Tim Wheeler
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Infectious Music
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Folk
© 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company ℗ 2011 Tim Wheeler and Emma-Lee Moss under exclusive license to Infectious Music Limited, a BMG Company
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