If it’s December, then surely it is time to deck the halls, put the tree up and release a Christmas single. Everyone does it, but the problem is that few festive tunes stand out first time around or survive long enough to stand the test of time.
Step forward Philip Watts d’Alton of Master and Dog fame with his new single This Christmas Time which has been released to support BUMBLEance Children’s National Ambulance Service.
If you are familiar with Master and Dog, this track won’t exactly surprise you since d’Alton’s voice and guitar/keyboards are two of the defining characteristics of the band’s sound. A solo voice and keyboards are exactly what you get with “This Christmas Time” – it is sparse and pared back but there is a melodic and haunting quality to it that lifts it beyond the humdrum mediocrity of so many similar songs.
Lyrically, d’Alton keeps it simple but manages to conjure something genuine and meaningful. He stays well away from yuletide clichés and sings of friendships and relationships which is pretty poignant and relevant given the current situation and what is shaping up to be the strangest holiday period that any of us have ever experienced. Missing people who you can’t be with and dreaming of being with them features large. Kinda sums up Christmas and New Year 2020 quite aptly.
Simplicity and honesty mark This Christmas Time out as being just that little bit special. Hop on over to Bandcamp and make a donation in the full knowledge that you are getting a track that you will come back to, as well as helping a worthwhile cause.
