Sinister: Are you coming over for Christmas?

[Sam Walton]

Hello Sinister

It has been an age since anyone has posted, and is even longer since I pressed "Send" to Sinister myself, but I just got back from the pub and found two of the posh B&S emails - you know the ones, with the fancy headers and "love B&S" anonymous tag on the end - sitting in my inbox, directing me to listen to their new Christmas effort on their MySpace. The first made me inquisitive. The second elicited the desired response. So I listened, and then was moved to write to YOU.

I quite like it, actually. To compare it to an existing B&S recording, it probably has most in common with The Act Of The Apostle Part 2, off TLP, but in general it has typical nu-Beeness (apologies to Idleberry for the ellision) qualities: confident and wistful all in one; the suggestion of super hi-fi production (MySpace is good at making everything sound cheap - I like that equality). I think this is a good thing - lyrically it makes me smile, and I like a lounge-jazz production with lots of baritone horns as much as the next Sinistereen (well, probably a lot more than the next Sinistereen - I guess it all pivots on how much you like early Tindersticks and how much you are willing to put up with your idols' maturing tastes).

Anyway, here are the lyrics, with unheard bits in square brackets:


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Are you coming over for Christmas? by Belle and Sebastian

   - verse -
Are you coming over Christmas
Leave your friends I don't think they'll miss you much
It's not that you aren't pretty or funny
It's just that they've got plenty more money

I'm going to paint the town on my days off
Cold [sleigh bells?] that glisten in starlight
Me and you singing a carol
On the top side of town
For all the poor folk in the old mission house

   - chorus -
If it feels like we are floating in time
Give yourself up to the desert and the night
Eastern caravans are following [lines?]
Strangeness reigns
There's love in heaven tonight

    - verse, unidentified female voice, far huskier than you've ever heard on a b&s recording -
I'll be over sometime this Christmas
If you behave yourself and don't drink too much
I'll come and feed the fire in your kitchen
See the tree and view of the city
All covered in snow

   - instrumental break that is so louche it borders on the Tom Jones - in a good way. Picture can-can dancers in super slo-mo. Amazing stuff -

   - verse, back to Struan again -
Leave the boy behind you won't miss him
Take a break from your phoney kissin'
There's no mistletoe in my kitchen
Just a tree and a view of the city covered in snow

   - Husky and Struan together -
If it feels like we are floating in air
When the hour's past it must be Christmas day
People shake your hand and wish you the best
Troubles [leap], you wonder why you were sad
I'm glad you came - it must be Christmas day

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


The second track on their MySpace at the moment, and so the direct follower to this if you're listening online, is Fox In The Snow. I always thought that was the weak one of IYFS but, juxtaposed with the new song, I realise what a cracking Christmas record it is, and never was. I'm still not sure of it on IFYS, mind.

Anyway, Sinister, have a marvellous tenth Christmas. When I was your age I *knew* he didn't exist - I hope you are all keeping the faith.

Love



Sam.x





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      "He's strictly a pain in the ass, but
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