A Very Little Christmas

Each year Christmas seems to come sooner and sooner, and it seems like they start playing carols everywhere just that tiny little bit further out from December too, don't you think? This year Little Monster Studio has been getting into the Christmas spirit since August, recording a diverse set of songs from a loosely affiliated group of local bands. 'A Very Little Christmas' is the resulting album.

Overseeing the entire recording process was up and coming Auckland producer Dave Parker, who recorded all of the songs in his West Auckland bedroom. But while bedroom recording conjures images of the lo-fi revolution 'A Very Little Christmas' is an astoundingly lush production. With the help of an enviable array of professional equipment and instruments, each song has been given immaculate treatment. Whether it's the stripped back anti-folk of Timothy Blackman's "Christmas Bells", the soulful alt-country of Great North's "A Guiding Star", or Bear Cat's Phil Spector inspired "This Christmas, All I Really Want Is To Love Somebody", 'A Very Little Christmas' is a pristine set of new holiday favourites.

The track list also includes new songs from Silver Scroll and Tui-nominated indie darlings Artisan Guns, long-time independent favourites The Gladeyes, the gorgeously somber Dear Time's Waste, a saucy duet from Chelsea Jade (Teacups) and James Duncan, Cool Rainbows and much more.

While your retail experience may already be filled with maddeningly saccharine, overplayed compilations of the same songs performed by different artists each year, 'A Very Little Christmas' is an 18 strong set overwhelmingly comprised of original Christmas songs by the artists - each with their own take on the festive season.