Maple Leaf Christmas Special: EP Reviews
This is the time of year when I’m regularly called upon to make donations to the Scrooge Jar. Every time I say something even vaguely negative about the festive season (which I confess is quite often) I am swiftly rebuked by the rest of the family and duly relieved of a few more pennies. So, I am possibly not the best suited to reviewing a pair of Christmas-themed EPs, but these new releases from two of my favourite Canadian singer-songwriters have, I confess, begun to thaw my miserly, humbug-riddled heart.
Here at RGM, we’ve always been rather taken by the singular voice of Colleen Brown, who is based in Edmonton, Alberta. Her new EP, ‘Home’ has everything you might expect from a seasonal record: shuffling sleigh bells, reverent croonery and schoolkid BVs. Opening track ‘What Do You Want For Christmas’ is particularly heavily garlanded with the latter, but this doesn’t dilute its infectious message of hope, as we anticipate gathering together in a way that we perhaps weren’t able to this time last year. There’s not one, but two versions of the Bing Crosby classic ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ on here, just because, you know, Christmas is all about heavy rotation. The militaristic snare that announces ‘Heading Home’ is perhaps another cliché, but it serves the subject well, as Christmas can, for many, be something of a campaign. It’s Brown’s breathtakingly beautiful cover of Laura Nyro’s 'Mother’s Spiritual’ that really steals the show, though, and it’s something I look forward to enjoying again at any time of the year.
Catherine MacLellan photo by Dave Brosha
If the name Catherine MacLellan is new to you, we urge you to explore the veteran singer-songwriter's rich discography, especially 2014’s The Raven’s Sun and 2019’s Juno-nominated album Coyote. But, before you do that, we bring you tidings of her new festive four-song EP, entitled Holiday. An atmospheric ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ opens proceedings, unfurling itself like a blanket of peace and calm. The century-old hymnal is followed by a brand new original, ‘Calling You Home’, a gently uplifting testament to the power of togetherness. MacLellan, from Prince Edward Island, recorded the track last Christmas when so many of us couldn’t meet up. The more lighthearted Elvis cover ‘Blue Christmas’ follows, replete with some vintage country guitar noodlery before the sparer ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ sets MacLellan’s vocal against a solo electric guitar and keys. Holiday is MacLellan’s first ever Christmas collection and she’s threatening more. If, going forward, she were to make it an annual tradition, there certainly wouldn’t be any complaints from us (even the grumpy ones).
As a general rule, Christmas releases bring me out in shivers, tied up as they often are in the overly commercialised aspects of the season. Both these collections, I’m pleased to say, have exactly the opposite effect. Fun and festive, yes, but also warm and wise; better still, they may even help me save some money...
Reviews by Rich Barnard
And we’re back! “From whence?” I hear you cry, in your florid way. Back from Canada, of course. We swam all the way, on our backs, our music-loving arms filled with a freshly picked bunch of hot new songs, gifted to us from our creative compadres ‘cross the waves. Imagine that. And we did it all for you.