Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.If there's a danger of the Pet Shop Boys' glass-half-empty attitude putting a bit of a damper on the kids' Christmas spirits, then this could completely creep them out.
Julian Koster, former accordion-botherer with US lo-fi indie combo Neutral Milk Hotel, here offers versions of seasonal classics played on the musical saw, which has a genuinely haunting quality – its wavering, organic timbre suggesting that the instrument is actually alive, or inhabited by a ghost - in this case, of a rural Christmas past. When used effectively, it imbues songs such as "The First Noel" with a strange, distinctive dignity; though plastering a random jangle of sleigh bells behind the saw's eerie whine doesn't help "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". Koster struggles to make the more light-hearted material work: call me old-fashioned, but I don't think "Frosty the Snowman" is improved by a sinister undercurrent of unease; while the subtle melody of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" tends to dissipate on the saw. But it can bring something extra to the more classic carols, with "Silent Night", in particular, boasting beautiful, tremulous harmonies; and even that hoary old crooner's favourite "White Christmas" is lent an almost unbearable poignancy.
Download this Silent Night; White Christmas; The First Noel
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments