#4312; A Different Kind of Christmas Carol

New Sounds | Dec 23, 2019

Just in time for Christmas, hear music that may come as a relief to anyone who does not wish a constant holiday soundtrack from November 11 until January 6.

Listen to excerpts from sound artist Tim Story’s epic 70 minute “Silent Cycles” where he processed 15 recordings of the carol “Silent Night” into an unrecognizable, yet inviting, sonic environment. Conceived as an audio installation for public spaces, the work is in direct response to how “Christmas music is piped mercilessly into our public spaces and over our airwaves—it is ubiquitous, unavoidable. So for some, Silent Night is less beautiful carol than unwitting symbol of the utter overexposure of the trappings that accompany our modern American 'holiday season'.” With this interpretive deconstruction, Story "allows the listener to rediscover the haunting beauty inherent in the iconic carol all along" and offers “a chance to carve out a moment of repose and reflection amongst the clutter and chaos of the 'holidays'” (Curious Musicia Bandcamp.)

Also, hear “A Different Kind of Christmas Carol” from fingerstyle guitarist Glenn Jones, and what Welsh multi-instrumentalist Gwenifer Raymond calls a “non-holiday specific single for a cold climate” for guitar. There’s also a mystical semi-trad folk jam by the supergroup trio of Bonny Light Horseman (singer and songwriter Anaïs Mitchell with Fruit Bats' Eric D. Johnson and The National and Bob Weir collaborator Josh Kaufman.) Hear their reworking of “Jane Jane,” a tune based on a counting song, usually sung at Christmas time.

Plus, listen to what John Schaefer calls “inventive deconstructions” of carols and holiday songs by guitarist Shane Parish. Listen to his disassembled ghost of “Do they know it’s Christmas” credited to Band-aid, along with a clever reworking of “O Holy Night,” somewhat recognizable -but just barely. – Caryn Havlik

ARTIST: Tim Story
WORK: Silent Cycles, excerpt [1:23]
RECORDING: Silent Cycles
SOURCE: Curious Music
INFO: curiousmusicia.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Bonny Light Horseman
WORK: Jane Jane [3:03]
RECORDING: Bonny Light Horseman
SOURCE: 37d03d Records | Due out Jan. 24, 2020
INFO: 37d03d.com

ARTIST: Shane Parish
WORK: O Holy Night [4:57]
RECORDING: December 2nd
SOURCE/INFO: shaneparish.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Tim Story
WORK: Silent Cycles, excerpt [9:12]
RECORDING: Silent Cycles
SOURCE: Curious Music
INFO: curiousmusicia.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Glenn Jones
WORK: A Different Kind of Christmas Carol [2:56]
RECORDING: The Giant Who Ate Himself and Other New Works For 6 & 12 String Guitar
SOURCE: Thrill Jockey Thrill-468
INFO: thrilljockey.com

ARTIST: Gwenifer Raymond
WORK: The Three Deaths of Red Spectre [6:49]
RECORDING: The Three Deaths of Red Spectre
SOURCE: Tompkins Square
INFO: tompkinssquare.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Shane Parish
WORK: Imperialist Xmas [5:49]
RECORDING: December 2nd
SOURCE/INFO: shaneparish.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Tim Story
WORK: Silent Cycles, excerpt [12:47]
RECORDING: Silent Cycles
SOURCE: Curious Music
INFO: curiousmusicia.bandcamp.com

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