Buzzin Electronic Music

Reverend Green/Drawlings – Be Good To Earth This Season/Wolfie’s Christmas – singles review

Reverend Green/Drawlings 7"

Christmas is coming! Children in the snow! Songs around the fire! Christmas singles!

Well, maybe the prospect of the X-factor winner droning over the radio-waves doesn’t fill you with festive joy but if Reverend Green and Drawlings’ Christmas singles are anything to go by there is still hope this Christmas time.

Taking the traditional and making it extraordinary is something the two specialise in – for a pointer, Reverend Green has worked as Animal Collective’s manager, and Dave Portner of Animal Collective produced Drawlings’ track. On these trembling, jingling electronic pieces they do just this.

Reverend Green’s Be Good To Earth This Season features Antony and the Johnson’s singer Antony Hegarty and Kria Brekkon formerly of Mùm, though their voices are played with until barely recognisable. The song sounds like old records simultaneously played at double and half pace, with Brekkon’s high voice gliding over the wobbling, crackly backing.

The meditative element of Be Good To Earth This Season, focussing on the importance of awareness of the Earth is backed up by a slower “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire” vibe, but fear no cheese, this is probably the best alternative Christmas song you’ve ever heard…

…except Drawlings’ Wolfie’s Christmas, that is. This jingly flipside to Reverend Green’s single evokes Christmas perfectly. The simplicity of the lyrics and music, interspersed as they are with Reindeer neighs and sleigh groans, creates a perfect accompaniment for Abby Portner’s off-kilter voice. Formerly of ‘Rings’, this is Portner’s first solo work, and it is a very endearing little tune. There is also the nice touch of an ironic nod to BandAid’s single as she launches into the track with ‘It’s Chriss-masss tiiime…’.

Be Good To Earth This Season/Wolfie’s Christmas are released by Care Kacky’s 45s, a new limb of  Paw Tracks on limited edition 7″s. This division of Paw Tracks will be used just for singles, and they kick off their life with two lovely seasonal songs.