First, "Snowfall" is Lorna's latest seasonal tune. And you can grab it free from Soundcloud (feel free to click the down arrow on the widget above).
Lorna is a 6-piece Dream Pop/Shoegaze outfit from the UK. They've always had a special affinity for seasonal songs and, as they've been together since the 90s, their holiday output has reached full album size. Lorna gets compared to the best of the genre--The Cocteau Twins, Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub--but I'd take Lorna ahead of the others (I'd have some inner dialogue about the matchup with Belle & Sebastian, but I'm pretty sure Lorna would win out in the end). It is just freaking beautiful stuff.
Lorna began making seasonal songs around 2004 and they've always been quite generous about sharing them free (usually), unless they're raising money for charity. And they've given us many unforgettable favorites like "Building Beautiful Buildings", "Like John Candy" and "The First Person To Arrive". In 2013, they collected up their Christmas (and Hunukkah) tracks on a digital album. This year they've gone physical. Yes! You have the opportunity to have all of Lorna's great seasonal tunes on a hard copy CD. And this is where the apology comes in. I got notice of this a week ago and really meant to post something, but didn't until an email today about "Snowfall". And...and this is very important...only 100 copies of the CD are being made. Release/shipping date is currently planned for December 9.
The digital collection had 9 tracks. The new physical CD, "The Stars of Winnetka (Deluxe Edition)" features those 9 PLUS "Like Alistair Sim" (2014), "Like John Candy" (2015), TWO new songs for 2016--"Snowfall" and "Snow In Bethlehem", a live version of "The First Person To Arrive", and a remix of "Like Alistair Sim". That's 15 tracks of Winter Wonderland dreaminess from Lorna. I believe the CD is a gatefold digipak and they will be signed and gift-wrapped. And, of course, when you buy the CD, you'll get the digital download on the date of release (MP3, FLAC, etc.). Pre-orders are being taken at Bandcamp. Stay tuned for the release of "Snow In Bethlehem" (a cover of a Coastal song, if I'm not mistaken) coming up later this week.
Here's the trailer for "The Stars of Winnetka (Deluxe Edition)".
2. Hannukah
3. Kuskova
4. Little Donkey
5. Shalom Chaverim
6. Building Beautiful Buildings
7. Snowsong (2010 version)
8. Snowlights
9. Lo, how a rose er' blooming
10. Like John Candy
11. Like Alastair Sim
12. Snowfall
13. Snow in Bethlehem
14. Christmas Vacation/The first person to arrive (live)
15. Like Alastair Sim (Silverman remix)
PRE-ORDER FROM BANDCAMP