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Christmas Album

by Synthetic Villains

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    4-page printed panel.

    Artwork inspired by mid-century graphic design.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Christmas Album via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 50 
    Purchasable with gift card

      £7 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £5 GBP  or more

     

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about

"as sure as Saint Nick will squeeze his magical bottom down the chimney, Richard has invested his album with invention, charm and mastery" - Colourhorizon

colourhorizon.wordpress.com/2022/12/07/synthetic-villains-xmas-album/

"If you want to get in the mood for the festive season then this is the perfect way" - Louder Than War

louderthanwar.com/synthetic-villains-christmas-album-album-review/

Radio Play:

Silent Night (Reprise)
Phantom Circuit / Beachy Head Radio:
phantomcircuit.com/listen-now/375.html

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Kate Bosworth's Dark Train / Warminster Community Radio:
www.mixcloud.com/katebosworth/wcr-dark-train-ma40-kate-bosworth-12-11-22/

Carolyn, Out in the Snow
Gareth Jones's Dandelion Radio Xmas Show
www.mixcloud.com/DandelionRadio/gareth-jones-xmas-show-20221223/

The Holly & the Ivy
Kate Bosworth's Dark Train / Warminster Community Radio:
www.mixcloud.com/katebosworth/wcr-dark-train-ma41-kate-bosworth-19-11-22/

The Carol of the Bells
Homebrew Electronica Show
www.mixcloud.com/homebrewelectronica/new-episode-56-23-12-22-christmas-special/

The Holly & the Ivy
DJ Alex KEXP
www.kexp.org/djs/dj-alex/?stream_time=1671976840

Load the Sleigh
Simon Edwards 6 Towns Radio / Radio Lantau / Radio Wigwam
soundcloud.com/simon-edwards-6/loose-canon-monday-19th-december-2022-463


I like Christmas music.

As a small child, it really was a wondrous and magical time, and music sound-tracked that joy and excitement. It's stuck with me.

Every Christmas over the years, and whilst making this album (over several months), I've listened to a lot of Christmas music. I don't like all of it, I'm pretty discerning, but I've taken on board everything from old carols up until recent times. I've researched the history of Christmas, including it's various pre-Christian roots, and the history of Christmas music.

A lot of Christmas music is basically folk music (that more people listen to). Many of the melodies and some of the words have been sung for centuries, and like folk music, those melodies and words have evolved, been adopted and co-opted over the years – just like mid-winter pagan festivals, Norse Yule, Christian Christmas, and the mostly secular version we currently inhabit.

There's probably the need for a good book about it all. But for now, suffice it to say, I've tried to encapsulate the spirit of Christmas (an umbrella term for all of it's permutations) within these 12 tracks.

There is no snark here, it's a totally sincere album. My greatest wish would be for it to become part of your Christmas tradition - I hope you like it, and play it every year!

credits

released December 2, 2022

Tracks 2, 5, 6, 8 written by Richard J Turner.
Tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 trad/expired copyright.


All tracks arranged and played by Richard J Turner.

All tracks recorded, mixed and mastered by Sam Parkinson at Stonegate Studios between September 2021 – July 2022.


A Flood of Sound Production.

FOS003

For the gear nerds:
Fender Mustang guitars, Fender Musicmaster Bass, Fender Twin Reverb Amp, Korg Volca Beats, Korg Volca Kick, Korg Monotribe, Korg Minilogue XD, Casio MT100, Casio MT45, Casio Rapman, Yamaha PS2, Yamaha MR10, Yamaha DD5, Rakit Metal Synth, Rakit Drum Synth, EHX Crash Pad, MPC Tymp, Akai MPK Mini Play, xylophone, glockenspiel, chime bars, jingles, tambourine, shakers, finger cymbals, bell, bike bell, shekere, samba whistle, party hooter, crackers, siren whistle, cuica, zither, bouzouki, Guild D4 acoustic guitar, music box, effects pedals.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Synthetic Villains Lancaster, UK

Instrumental, mostly electronic music.

From the "experimental, slightly off-kilter" (Bandcamp New & Notable) synth-pop of the debut album to the "pulsing Berlin School synths" (Electronic Sound Magazine) of the latest albums, SV albums explore drones, repetitions, textures and riffs.

The 3rd album is over on Werra Foxma's Sub Club.
wfrsubclub.bandcamp.com/album/through-a-crack-of-light
... more

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