El Dog - Let It Snow (Lo-Five Records)

The festive season is upon us, and if the usual cinnamon-scented, garland-adorned croonings bring you out in hives, or the soft ring of sleigh bells has you running for the safety of the nearest Grinch's cave then a burst of El Dog may just save the three ghosts a trip.

Stripped back to its bare bones, the Glaswegian four-piece have rejuvenated Sammy Cahn's infamous composition, 'Let It Snow', stripping it of the musical excess which is so typical of the season. The end result: a track, which is neither kitsch nor comedic, but heart-felt and raw.

As the band rightly point out, 'Let It Snow' is not a Christmas song. And with the paired-down accompaniment during the verses, lead singer Bob Rafferty is free to use his voice to explore the lyrics' various nuances, which are so often hidden. The tempo has also been eased, giving an overall melancholic feel to this well-known tale.

In contrast, however, the band allow themselves to let rip during the chorus, suggesting that despite their Emo façade, they understand perfectly the joys of waking up to a fresh blanket of snow as far as your eyes can see.

Refreshingly different, El Dog have made this classic their own. And by doing so, they have not only brought meaning back to those well-known lyrics, but also enabled it once again to stand independently of the festivities as a track in its own right.

It's the perfect antidote to December's standard musical offerings.

Rating: 4/5

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