Which one would you save?
This is just the most freakin' gorgeous thing I've ever heard.
That said, I have mixed feelings, here. I'm sad that I've missed over a decade of this woman's music (and I so hate to be the last one to arrive at the party). AND I'm excited that I will soon be binge listening to a decade of this woman's music! There was a time when I was up on all the current music, whether the artist had released a Christmas record or not. But Katie Melua is totally new to me. And I might not know of her, even now, in spite of the ocean of thoroughly justified praise she's gotten since her debut album in 2003, were it not for the forthcoming album "In Winter" (which arrives on October 14).
Katie Melua was born in that portion of the former Soviet Union known as Georgia. She moved from there to Northern Ireland and is currently based in England, I believe. In 2006, she was the best selling female artist in both the UK and the EU. She is one of those artists whose music defies easy description. You hear strains of Jazz, Blues, Folk, Indie, Pop, World Music.....it's all in there. What "Dreams On Fire" most reminded me of (and, as usual, I hope no one is put off by my aural comparisons) is Edith Piaf. Piaf was one of those amazing talents that many modern ears refuse to hear but, much like Billie Holiday, once she's got you, she's got you good. I hope, if you haven't already, you'll treat your head to some Edith Piaf sometime. But I don't sense that there will be any resistance to to the beautiful heart and soul of Katie Melua.
For this album, Katie returned to Georgia to record with the Gori Women's Choir. As you can tell from "Dreams On Fire", they sound perfect together. As the title of "In Winter" (and, for that matter, "Dreams On Fire") might suggest, this isn't truly a Christmas album, as such. Were it only for the inclusion of "O Holy Night", that would be enough for me. But the album also includes "River", "Cradle Song" and "All-Night Vigil - Nunc Dimittis" (which some might recognize as "The Song of Simeon"). The other titles aren't ringing any bells for me...could be originals ("The Little Swallow" I'm guessing is the Irish Folk tune, but I can't say that with any certainty). Regardless, I am excited beyond mere words to hear the rest of this album. Personally, I like it when an artist goes searching beyond the obvious to capture the lesser explored facets of the diamond that is the holiday season.
Katie Melua has previously released a few tracks I should not have missed, but did. And, first of all, Katie is routinely on British television and radio come the holidays and there are videos (mostly audio) all over YouTube (including "O Holy Night"--but I'll wait for the album on that one). She was on Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 2004, which I do own but the name didn't mean anything to me then. For a few years starting in 2005, Katie began taking the late Kirsty MacColl's part on "Fairytale of New York" in live Christmas performances with the Pogues. I don't think there were any releases, but the videos are on YouTube. In 2007, Katie and Eva Cassidy released a duet version of "What A Wonderful World" (yes, the Satchmo song) which went to #1 in the UK. You can find it on "The Katie Melua Collection" (video here). In 2012, she released the single "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", which is included on the 2012 album "B-Sides: The Tracks That Got Away" (it was also, apparently, the B-side of the Eva Cassidy duet). And, in 2014, she recorded Black's "Wonderful Life" for a BBC collection--releasing it as a single last year. As Black passed away earlier this year, and as "Wonderful Life" happens to be (probably) my second favorite Christmas song of all time (even though it isn't a Christmas song at all), that's the video I'm closing with.
Katie Melua's "In Winter" arrives October 14, on CD and on 12" snow white vinyl (with gatefold cover). Give it a spin.
That said, I have mixed feelings, here. I'm sad that I've missed over a decade of this woman's music (and I so hate to be the last one to arrive at the party). AND I'm excited that I will soon be binge listening to a decade of this woman's music! There was a time when I was up on all the current music, whether the artist had released a Christmas record or not. But Katie Melua is totally new to me. And I might not know of her, even now, in spite of the ocean of thoroughly justified praise she's gotten since her debut album in 2003, were it not for the forthcoming album "In Winter" (which arrives on October 14).
Katie Melua was born in that portion of the former Soviet Union known as Georgia. She moved from there to Northern Ireland and is currently based in England, I believe. In 2006, she was the best selling female artist in both the UK and the EU. She is one of those artists whose music defies easy description. You hear strains of Jazz, Blues, Folk, Indie, Pop, World Music.....it's all in there. What "Dreams On Fire" most reminded me of (and, as usual, I hope no one is put off by my aural comparisons) is Edith Piaf. Piaf was one of those amazing talents that many modern ears refuse to hear but, much like Billie Holiday, once she's got you, she's got you good. I hope, if you haven't already, you'll treat your head to some Edith Piaf sometime. But I don't sense that there will be any resistance to to the beautiful heart and soul of Katie Melua.
For this album, Katie returned to Georgia to record with the Gori Women's Choir. As you can tell from "Dreams On Fire", they sound perfect together. As the title of "In Winter" (and, for that matter, "Dreams On Fire") might suggest, this isn't truly a Christmas album, as such. Were it only for the inclusion of "O Holy Night", that would be enough for me. But the album also includes "River", "Cradle Song" and "All-Night Vigil - Nunc Dimittis" (which some might recognize as "The Song of Simeon"). The other titles aren't ringing any bells for me...could be originals ("The Little Swallow" I'm guessing is the Irish Folk tune, but I can't say that with any certainty). Regardless, I am excited beyond mere words to hear the rest of this album. Personally, I like it when an artist goes searching beyond the obvious to capture the lesser explored facets of the diamond that is the holiday season.
Katie Melua has previously released a few tracks I should not have missed, but did. And, first of all, Katie is routinely on British television and radio come the holidays and there are videos (mostly audio) all over YouTube (including "O Holy Night"--but I'll wait for the album on that one). She was on Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 2004, which I do own but the name didn't mean anything to me then. For a few years starting in 2005, Katie began taking the late Kirsty MacColl's part on "Fairytale of New York" in live Christmas performances with the Pogues. I don't think there were any releases, but the videos are on YouTube. In 2007, Katie and Eva Cassidy released a duet version of "What A Wonderful World" (yes, the Satchmo song) which went to #1 in the UK. You can find it on "The Katie Melua Collection" (video here). In 2012, she released the single "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", which is included on the 2012 album "B-Sides: The Tracks That Got Away" (it was also, apparently, the B-side of the Eva Cassidy duet). And, in 2014, she recorded Black's "Wonderful Life" for a BBC collection--releasing it as a single last year. As Black passed away earlier this year, and as "Wonderful Life" happens to be (probably) my second favorite Christmas song of all time (even though it isn't a Christmas song at all), that's the video I'm closing with.
Katie Melua's "In Winter" arrives October 14, on CD and on 12" snow white vinyl (with gatefold cover). Give it a spin.
| 1. The Little Sparrow 2. River 3. Perfect World 4. Cradle Somg 5. A Time To Buy 6. Plane Song 7. If You Are So Beautiful 8. Dreams On Fire 9. All-Night Vigil - Nunc Dimittis 10. O Holy Night ARTIST WEBSITE |  |
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