Wednesday 20 December 2023

EP Review: Awesome Christmas Feelings - Poco Drom

Another brilliant slice of musical mayhem from the remarkable Poco Drom, who have reinvented Christmas for the modern age with a restless energy second to none. Their new EP, Awesome Christmas Feelings, provides a spectacular interpretation of some classic songs, where distorted guitars, mesmerising keyboards and a hypnotic drum machine are the order of the day. Not what you would normally expect from a Christmas EP, but this is Poco Drom; who specialise in the sound of the unexpected. The EP also features three stunning music videos on YouTube which you should check out at your earliest opportunity.

"Step Into Christmas" kicks off the EP in fine style, where OMD meet Kraftwerk and hire Elizabeth Fraser on vocals. The lead vocal truly is sublime, merging superbly with the harmonies hovering away in the background. The somewhat anarchic guitar creates a noticeable tension, allowing an array of sound effects to swoop and soar throughout the track.There is so much going on here, it powers away without pausing for breath. Magnificent!

"When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney" continues this upbeat approach, with a distorted guitar included once again for additional impact. The dichotomy presented between the purity of the vocals, and the timely aggression of the backing track is like nothing I have ever heard. Somehow the music sounds modern and retro simultaneously, where scintillating electronica is repackaged just in time for Christmas.

Slade's classic "Merry Christmas Everybody" begins slowly before really exploding on the chorus where an almost sci-fi sound dominates the air space throughout.  Here swirling synthesisers meet crystal clear vocals, delivering the kind of atmospherics that provide a breath of fresh air to the festive season. Once again a distorted guitar and pulsating keyboard dominate the sound, punctuated by a hypnotic drum pattern throughout.

Poco Drom are clearly one of the most exciting and innovative acts on the planet, and are way ahead of their competitors when it comes to pushing the boundaries of family music.  Here Santa arrives in a space rocket, propelled by the most magnificent experimentation you are ever likely to hear. The music is engaging, unique and completely different to anything else around at the moment. I'm sure even Noddy Holder would agree. Truly remarkable, I take my hat off to them.

Poco Drom - back to the future.

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