By Keith Walsh
Creating a Christmas tune that will endure for centuries is a nut that countless artists have tried to crack. England’s Modesty Blaise are serious contenders as they work their magic on the new song “I’ll Be Home For Xmas.” The upbeat pop-rocker is familiar in comforting ways, with melodies reminiscent of the great classics, along with sweet brass arrangements and synth bells that sound like the real thing. You can dig the vintage-inspired middle eight and the sax solo as well. The overall mix seems engineered to recall yesteryear, with a prominent top end and flirty female background vocals. Take that, Mariah Carey!

I’m not surprised that singer/songwriter Jonny Collins came up with such a sweet optimistic song – the band’s album The Modesty Blaise from earlier this year is a true pop gem loaded with wisely affirming views on life and love. (Read my review here: Idealism For Jaded Times: The Naive Baroque Pop Of Modesty Blaise)

There’s equal parts inspiration and calculation behind “I’ll Be Home For Xmas,” with its story of a jailbird set free for three days. As Collins said ‘”We’re not just making a tune for 2021, this is a conscious decision to make a timeless tune. All great Xmas records are timeless, from Wizzard to The Wombles, we play them every year. They do not age; they invoke Proustian memories of festive seasons past. We want to be part of your Xmas – so we’re coming home.”

In addition to the brass and keyboard players, the main lineup of Modesty Blaise features Jonny Collins, vocals and guitars, David W. Brown on bass, Gregory Jones and Alastair Jenkins on guitars, Mark Bradley on drums, and Roger Huckle on violin.

Collins continues: “I always thought that nothing says Xmas quite like two drum kits, a massive tune and a baritone sax. We think this is the best Xmas record that you’ll have heard this side of the millennium, we’ve tried to make something timeless and we hope you agree. We want to be part of your festive season this year and in years to come.”

The fun video features cinematography by MM Van Dyke and was created in Bristol, England. The tune was produced by Dorothy Collins and released on Lo-Fi To Disco! Records out of Germany.

ModestyBlaise.net
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From Lo-Fi To Disco

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