Did
somebody slip something in my hot chocolate?
If you’ve
ever thought your Christmas music collection needed a little jolt of Norman
Rockwell on acid, you’re finally in luck! The Polyphonic Spree has just released
their first Christmas record, Holidaydream,
and it’s exactly what you’d expect from the left-of-center, multi-membered,
symphonic choral rockers. Looking at the seemingly safe enough tracklist,
you’ll see ten traditional holiday favorites mixed with a few original
instrumentals and a cool cover of John Lennon’s "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." But don’t assume this is just another
collection of yuletide tunes you’ve heard somewhere else before. The Polyphonic
Spree aren’t your average 20+ member indie band and any Christmas record of
theirs isn’t going to be average either. Holidaydream
boasts some of the most trippy, dream-like sonic soundscapes and reworked
melodies for these well-known, much-loved holiday songs and it’s guaranteed to
create a unique listening experience for you throughout the season.
As diverse
as The Polyphonic Spree is in nature and musical approach, it should be no
surprise that the vibe of Holidaydream
follows suite. It alternates between snappy instrumentation and somber spaces,
while the magical, etherealness they create holds everything together. Holidaydream opens up with “A Working
Elf’s Theme,” the first of two original instrumentals on the album. It’s
whimsical and bouncy, and the sleigh bells and whistling come across surprisingly
genuine and non-cheesy. The other instrumental, “Holidaydream,” closes the
album and it’s more spacey and synthy in nature. Together, the two tracks work
to make appropriate bookends for the jolly journey in between. Some of my
favorite moments on the album are the atmospheric harp-pegios in “Silent Night”
and the off-kilter melodic changes in “Winter Wonderland,” as well as the Middle-Eastern
instrumental flourishes found in the 1-2 punch of “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
and “Carol of the Drum (Little Drummer Boy).” The most cinematic track of the
album is their beautifully weird take on “Silver Bells,” where they are awesomely
joined by School of Seven Bells. This one really breathes, unfolds and
stretches out, like if Pink Floyd got all sentimental and festive. It really
shines as a crowning jewel in an already interesting and entertaining
collection of songs.
Holidaydream can be ordered on CD or
180-gram red-and-white splatter vinyl from Kirtland Records HERE.
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