Husky Loops - 'Huskmas (Husky Christmas)' Mix

At Christmas it is better to give than to receive, an old adage I'll admit but one that still holds true. No matter if you're not religious, or so jaded by excessive commercialisation that your humbug is set to Maximum Bah, the simple joy of seeing someone's face light up when they receive a present fair warms the heart (even that of a beardy curmudgeon like me). It doesn't have to be a big gift, a nice gift or even a physical gift; a hug perhaps, a smile or, better yet, a virtual mixtape (it's Christmas so forgive the tedious preamble).

London-based electro-indie-rock trio Husky Loops have had a fun-packed year spent recording, releasing new music and touring the UK & mainland Europe (including a stopover at Reykjavik's Iceland Airwaves Festival), finding time to sign for Danger Mouse's 30th Century Records along the way. They're a talented bunch of very nice chaps, and I'm not just saying that because they were excellent when I caught them at Southampton's legendary Joiners in February (even though they were), who I expect to hear a lot more of in 2019.

To wrap up what has been, in their own words, "an incredible year for Husky Loops" the trio have conjured up a mix, featuring a new song of theirs and a hand-picked selection of festive favourites, and posted it to SoundCloud (a note of caution, the mix will only be available until New Year's Eve).  



It's a nice pre-drinks mix of tunes, with maybe a song or two that you've not heard of (or not heard in awhile), so pour yourself an Egg Nog and enjoy.

Christmas Covers Party #9

Despite the Creme Eggs on display in my local corner shop it is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Admittedly, after having already endured several months of adverts preaching rampant consumerism and over-indulgence, I'm not exactly in the festive spirit as yet (bah, and furthermore, humbug) but here's something that fair warms the cockles and helps melt away my inner Scrooge; the 9th Annual Christmas Covers Party.

This yearly event brings together some of the best and brightest of Pompey's alt-music scene to rock some Egg Nog, have some fun and raise money to support the valuable work of The Rowans hospice. Situated just outside of the city The Rowans aims to improve the the lives of those living with life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers, both in Portsmouth and throughout South East Hampshire.

The line-up for this year features Battery Hens, Horse Flies, Hooch, Dad Hair, The SLM, Cyprian Sceptre, Glorious Bulletheads and Flybums, all of whom are no doubt all practising the three covers apiece that they'll be performing. The venue for this festive farrago is The Wedgewood Rooms, with Thursday 27th December the date for your diaries, tickets £5 in advance. 

And yes, I'm really hoping that Battery Hens take on this Muppet Christmas classic. Fingers crossed.

Curxes - 'I Believe in Father Christmas'

If I didn't know better I'd say there were Elves on the Isle of Wight, escaped from the North Pole to fashion festive electronica and ambient sounds, for it's from across the water that this suitably Yuletide gem hails. 

From their Vectis base Curxes have taken on Greg Lake's 1975 Christmas tune, I Believe In Father Christmas, and created a beautifully delicate, dark and melancholy version of a classic.




Curxes have form for spinning a dark Christmas cover, their version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, recorded several years back for the excellent Breaking More Waves blog, is also well worth a listen/purchase.

It's that time of year again...

Yes, the weather is getting colder, our cheeks are getting rosier and our bank accounts emptier; Christmas time is here again. And, as well as Mince Pies and a surfeit of Turkey, that also means I've once again taken it upon myself to concoct a Lyric Quiz for your delectation and delight (I'm too good to you lot, really I am).

This year's quiz is made up of 50 snatches of lyric, some of which are ridiculously easy, and some fiendishly difficult, but they all should tax your noggin for awhile (thus giving you a grand excuse to raid the Quality Street for "brain food"). It's all wrapped up in a nice PDF file, which you can download by right clicking here and choosing the save option.

The answers will be posted on the blog on Wednesday 9th January 2008, so you've a few weeks to cogitate on my festive fifty (if you get stuck then you can always ask for help via the forum). To add to the fun (!) a naff prize of some description will be awarded to the person(s) scoring the highest number of correct answers (so no using Google to get the answers).

;o)