Gazelle Twin - 'Gaudete/Silent Night'

Gazelle Twin is the operating persona of Elizabeth Bernholz, a producer and composer from Brighton who makes challenging sounds for discerning listeners. If you want an easy pop foot-tapper this will not be "your jam", lovers of Fever Ray and The Knife however will no doubt enjoy the dark beats, affected vocals and stage theatricality. Some may not warm to an avant-garde performance delivered by a costumed artiste but, of course, that's the point. 

After a year that saw the release of critically acclaimed fifth LP Pastoral, a dark reflection on proto-Brexit Britain that dug deeper into the country's two sided argument than The Good The Bad & The Queen's similarly themed sophomore release, Gazelle Twin has delivered a suitably vexing festive double-header.

DIRGE MMXVIII features brooding, menacing versions of Latin carol Gaudete and Franz Xaver Gruber & Joseph Mohr's Silent Night. Steeleye Span's 1973 version of Gaudete is festive staple, appearing on a surfeit of playlists and compilation albums, though I'm rather partial to the Pure Reason Revolution take from a few years back.

Neither version here may be traditionally festive, their aural darkness perhaps better suited as soundtrack music to an Inside Number 9 Christmas special, but they are both intriguing additions to your yuletide playlist.

Stealing Sheep - 'Wonderful Christmastime'

Some years ago, after a last minute rain-check from a chum, I found myself staring into a half-full pint glass in a pub on Albert Road, contemplating whether or not to have another beer before venturing into The Wedgewood Rooms to see Villagers. Erring on the side of caution I decided to gauge my decision on who the support act were; after a brief foray online I finished my beverage, exited the pub, and directed my feet to the venerable Southsea venue where I very much enjoyed Stealing Sheep's support set.

Two LPs, several singles and a few years later the Liverpool trio remain a consistently innovative and entertaining band, producing interesting and melodic electro-pop. The band are due to release their third long player in the new year but, for Christmas and specially recorded for Stuart Maconie & Mark Radcliffe's BBC Radio 6 Music afternoon show,  they've released a suitably electro cover of Macca's Wonderful Christmastime.

Paul McCartney's 1979 festive classic is twee pop gem which consistently divides opinion at this time of year. Love it or loathe it you will hear it at some point over the holiday season. Stealing Sheep's cover gifts the song with a mellow electronica vibe, delicate vocals and some welcome synth drum sounds.



The song will be available for download, at a pay-your-own-price rate, until Boxing Day so if you want to pep up your festive playlist with something interesting be sure not to hesitate.