When Rivers Meet have announced that Christmas Is Here, and they’re not messing about! This is a belter of a Christmas song that delivers the band’s brand of blues rock with added seasonal goodness.
This Christmas offering has two songs. I’m old school, so I’m thinking A side and B side but, arguably, what we have here is a double A side single.
Kicking things off is: “Christmas Is Here”. It starts with jingle bells and a very When Rivers Meet, “Whoa-oo-o-oa”. Then crashing chords from Aaron followed by some lines delivered acapella from from Grace; what an opening! And what a voice. Grace just belts it out, unaccompanied, until she gets to the chorus where Aaron joins her on vocals. Next time round, Grace is singing over a delicious drum pattern. And just when you think it’s settling down nicely to a verse/chorus structure there is a sustained note underneath the “Whoa-oo-o-oa” creating a sense of anticipation… then the note climbs a notch, creating more tension… which resolves into a ginormous guitar solo. If that solo doesn’t put Aaron on the nice list, Santa needs a new hearing aid!
The lyrics are full of presents, and snow, and Santa, and trees, and everything else you need to get you “rockin’ your stocking”. Check out the official video at the end of the review.
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The second song, “It’s The Time Of Year”, is a different kettle of fish (platter of turkey?). Where the first is a full on Christmas rocker, the second is a gentle track with Grace singing about making her way home for Christmas. The song is beautifully stripped back: just a piano and Grace and Aaron’s superb harmonies. The piano melody hints at “Jingle Bells”, but a minor key version; think Joni Mitchell’s “River” rather than jolly holly. I stated above that I see this release as a double A side because, although the CD is titled “Christmas Is Here”, my favourite track of the two is: “It’s The Time Of Year”.
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Christmas Is Here is a re-release and is available now on CD and as digital download.
Whether you want to go rocking in your stockings or go for a mellow minor key Christmas, this is a CD that will make your Christmas.
Header image: screenshot from video.
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Check out our collated seasonal playlist, with all the Spotify-able tracks we’ve featured over the last few years
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