Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Collette Cooper Presents: DARKSIDE OF CHRISTMAS Chapters 1 & 2

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Collette Cooper Presents: DARKSIDE OF CHRISTMAS Chapters 1 & 2
Collette Cooper
Fri Dec 15, 2023
Cashbox Canada

Following on from 2022’s impactful Darkside of Christmas Chapter 1, Collette Cooper, known for her individual, unmistakable voice returns this festive season with Darkside of Christmas Chapter 2 (Thelonious Punk Records.)

Check it out on YouTube here:

Reflecting the current political and social environment caused by the impact of national and global events, Darkside Of Christmas Chapters 1 & 2 takes a more poignant approach to the seasonal album, aiming to recognise the recent difficulties that have been felt by many around the world, touching on themes of love, loss and empathy, tied together with wry wit, edgy humour and outstanding musicianship.

While the theme may at first appear saturnine, Darkside Of Christmas’ ultimate sentiment is an uplifting feeling of spirituality and hope, laced with a devil-may-care party spirit designed to unify those who feel that the hour of ‘forced fun’ is upon them. Songs such as ‘Run Santa Baby’, sees old Saint Nick feeling the pinch of frostbite, while Cooper’s rendition of ‘What A Wonderful World’ (recorded live in one take) sails over the sound of an old honky-tonk piano with the odd broken key, conjuring the essence of a singalong around the fire after a few too many glasses of Christmas spirit.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/5Nzha1v80UU1b08vptSCgc

A more personal sentiment is projected on the original track ‘Another Day’ – dedicated to Collette’s best friend Claire Bonham, who unexpectedly passed away in March 2020 (the last time they spent time together was New Year’s Day 2020), while the classic jazz standard ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’ is given a unique treatment with the addition of the melody from ‘Carol Of The Bells’.

The final jewel in the crown is the addition of legendary British actor Ray Winstone, who introduces the album by reciting a compelling, original poem by Collette Cooper, setting the tone for what is to come.

Chapter 2 opens with another Cooper-penned poem, this time recited by award winning, gritty British actor, Maxine Peake to start the haunting original composition ‘When the Snow Falls’.

Chapter 2 sees Cooper reinvent her single from 2020, Lost Soul, with a gospel inflected a cappella opening followed by a full-on funk-blues experience entitled Lost Soul (Piece of Mind).

The final new track ends the project like it began with Cooper’s unique take on an old Carol, this time being ‘Coventry Carol’ whose theme of war and strife is a chilling echo of today’s headlines and given that it was recorded in September it is an eerie example of art predicting life.

Said Collette: ‘A lot of love, blood, sweat, tears, and snow has gone into this album.’

Recorded at Abbey Road and Dean Street Studios, (Collette’s body of work is mostly recorded live in one or two takes) with original artwork by the acclaimed photographer Rankin, Darkside Of Christmas Chapters 1 & 2 is a distinctive and stylish work, destined to indulge all of this years’ Scrooges and maybe a few Tiny Tim’s for good measure!

collettecooper.com

Reviews
Album
Collette Cooper
Month: Nov 2023
Maggie's Wake London, ON’s Folk Roots Collective Maggie's Wake Release New Holiday Song…
Ron Kalmakoff After Fan Requests, Canadian Singer-Songwriter Ron Kalmakoff Releases His First…
Ryan Shane Owen Ryan Shane Owen Invites You On An Electro-Classical-Folk Odyssey With His…
Blumarelo Tropical Rock Band Blumarelo's Decade-Long Musical Journey Culminates…
Alan Tuck Alan Tuck Unleashes Powerful Fusion with 'By Any Means (Warriors)…
Arturo Rojas Arturo Rojas Ignites Passion with His Latest Single 'Entre Mi Fuego y Sangre…
11th Annual Jammin’ For Joy Charity Concert To Be Held December 14th in Support of SickKids Foundation Featuring Gavin McLeod, Zach Oliver and JIN 11th Annual Jammin’ For Joy Charity Concert To Be Held December 14th in Support of…
Redhead Mack Band's "Pick It Up" Reveals the Complex Balance of Doing What You Love for a Living in Their Latest Album Redhead Mack Band's "Pick It Up" Reveals the Complex Balance…
Rockers Cigar Club Rockers Cigar Club Offer Two Interpretations – Swaggering and Sensual – of the…
Toronto Musician Richard Todd Joins Forces with WoodGreen Community Services to Tackle 'The Forgotten Homelessnes Toronto Musician Richard Todd Joins Forces with WoodGreen Community Services to…
Kitchener's Fog Blues and Brass Band Unleashes Powerful 'Who's Gonna Suffer' Kitchener's Fog Blues and Brass Band Unleashes Powerful 'Who's…
Month: Dec 2023
Francine Honey Francine Honey Prepares For Liftoff On New Record Rockets In My Boots, Volume 1
Chin Injeti GRAMMY & JUNO Award-Winning Chin Injeti Collaborates with daysormay on…
iLLAH iLLAH Unleashes Powerful Lyricism in New Single 'Desire' from…
Jamie Ruben Musical Maverick Jamie Ruben Unveils 'Instrumental Obscenity' … And Gets…

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 111
  • Page 112
  • Page 113
  • Page 114
  • Current page 115
  • Page 116
  • Page 117
  • Page 118
  • Page 119
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers