Turnstile/Heart Swells (label)
08 December 2014 (released)
13 December 2014
What have they gone and done now? It may bewilder some as to why a cool indie pop band would decide to release a Christmas themed E.P. Despite the prospect of compromising their cult status, Cardiff 6-piece, Los Campesinos! have not been dispirited.
While they've never favoured a completely serious aesthetic, the disturbingly twee snow globe, used as the artwork for this new release, does initially make you squirm in your seat. You can almost hear their fan-base whimper as you set your eyes upon the track-listing – 'When Christmas Comes' is the first, followed by another 5 equally toe-curlingly titled recordings. However, this is not a cue for you to switch off.
The E.P.'s opener is an uplifting little ditty. It could almost be a convincing modern indie-rock single, if you were to block out the frequent seasonal references to 'tinsel', 'snowflakes' and 'jingle bells'. Unusual vocal production makes this track a little different from the rest of their material. The next recording follows in a similar vein; bright metallic-sounding drums, driving acoustic guitar and smooth harmonies prove the band's ability to create an admirable texture, within a simple song. There's no shortage of clean-cut indie guitar hooks either. It is beginning to seem that 'A Los Campesinos! Christmas' isn't such a disappointment after all.
'The Holly and The Ivy' has more than an inkling of the late John Martyn about it. Soft jazzy guitar and haunting lyrics delicately interweave – this is a beautiful intermission. The pace is soon picked back up by the overdriven 'Kindle A Flame In Her Heart'. Frontman Gareth David takes on the post-punk swagger of Jon King (Gang Of Four vocalist), as he aches: “merry Christmas, I wish you were here, merry Christmas, maybe 5, 10, 15, 20 years”. Track 5 sets off with a Kings Of Leon style riff, before eventually evolving into an anthemic ballad, brimming with a youthful vigour that can only be found in a Los Campesinos! tune.
Closing track 'Lonely This Christmas' is an eccentrically electronic take on the 1974 Christmas number one by Mud, ending the E.P. on a slightly cheesy, but gleefully festive note, having managed to rid the Scrooge in every one of us.
Los Campesinos! have intelligently structured this new record to continually impress, surprise and improve with every song – as far as Christmas albums go, this isn't the most classic sounding release, but probably most tasteful you've ever heard.
Written by Charlie Stork.
