Slow Club: 'Christmas TV'
Folk is cool these days isn't it? Indeed one might argue that it has become the genre of 2008, should such an accolade exist. I wonder what Woody Guthrie and his pals would have to say about that. Seemingly gone are the days of the underground bar in which a troubled singer with his guitar would tell a story in a song, a story told with anguish aided by the knowledge that, for many a folk song-smith, this would be as good as it gets. No, these days to be armed only with your voice and your guitar is a show of strength, defiance and fashion - but are the likes of Frank Turner, Noah and The Whale and Sheffield's Slow Club worthy of their fashionista status? Does the music substantiate the popularity?
In the case of 'Christmas TV' by Charles and Rebecca of the afore-mentioned Slow Club, the answer is almost. A heart-breaking-then-mending number, 'Christmas TV' speaks of lovers torn apart only to be reunited at Christmas time with the voices of its performers combining beautifully to provide a simple four and a half minutes of modern folk. The theme of the song is perhaps in part to blame, though, for its failure to quite reach heights promised - heights found in droves within other works from this highly promising outfit, whose 'Let's Fall Back in Love EP' is something that must be sought. Instead 'Christmas TV' lacks a little something in its delivery and lyrical content; it's as if Slow Club got half way through putting the tree up but forgot to but the fairy on top. Then again, that might just be my anti- attitude towards festive music breaking loose.
For first time listeners this song may perhaps not entirely live up to the hype afforded its creators but I for one am confident perseverance will be rewarded when their 2009 album finds its way onto shop shelves.
7/10
Review by Benjamin Coley
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