An Alternative Christmas Playlist 2013

Christmas is approaching and also some snow fell today. I appreciate neither nor. The most annoying thing on Christmas is not its superficiality, let alone the mindless consuming. No, you somehow can escape that – somehow. What bugs me even more is ‘Christmas music’. Fortunately, I am sitting now in a coffee-house, where some bright side of the 80’s is playing. Everything’s better than ‘Last Christmas’ and Bowie’s ‘Drummer Boy’. However, soon it is over.

I tried to make an alternative to the usual Christmas swamp. The following list consists of songs, which in my opinion would also hit the Xmas mood, without being pathetic.

Victor Sierra – The Xmas Case

French steampunk band Victor Sierra contributes a critical song on the commercialization of Christmas. It is the fastest song in this list.

Feeding Fingers – Mine is Not the Only Voice…

The classical piano was one of my earliest Christmas associations. Feeding Fingers created a masterpiece with the following song.

 

Johann Sebastian Bach – Präludium in G-Moll

Classical music always fits. Why not listen to some good old Johann Sebastian at this jolly time of year?

 

Bel Canto – Щедрик

In America this originally Ukrainian folk song is already quite popular, also as a Christmas song. The following version is sung by a Lithuanian choir as a sign of solidarity for the current anti-government movement in Ukraine.

 

Ultravox – Vienna

One of the slowest synthpop pieces provides a harmonious mood for the last days of the year.

 

OMD – Maid of Orleans

The same as for Ultravox is true for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

 

Clan of Xymox – Clementina

The ending track of the legendary Twist of Shadows album by (Clan of) Xymox. Hardly anything can compare to the charm of this song.

 

Dead Can Dance – Severance

I don’t need to explain why the music of Dead Can Dance goes under one’s skin.

 

Thy Veils – Travel

Last but not least a piece of ambient, like Thy Veils, can play in the background while you spend some time with your loved ones.

 

So, that was it. I hope this list could help some of you to escape the Christmas tralala for a while. As always, I am open to suggestions. Please, feel free to drop me a comment below.