By Robin Ervolina
It takes a lot for me to listen to Christmas music, and even more for me to address anything related to Christmas before Thanksgiving. I'm a scroogity Scrooge and the commercialism of the Christ child is only acceptable after Turkey Day has its due. That being said, I greedily and hypocritically devoured the new CD from ethereal vocalist Tarja, partly because of her unparalleled talent, and partly because it's titled From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) and the blackness of my jaded soul demanded it.
If you're unfamiliar with Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli let me briefly 411 you. This classically trained soprano hails from Finland and is the founder and former vocalist for the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Her elegant three range octave has earned her multiple awards and millions of fans world wide. Her first solo album post-Nightwish was Henkäys ikuisuudesta (2005), also a Christmas album. I suppose it's safe to say Tarja is not a scrooge, however the theme of this newest Christmas CD is not for the merry hearted.
On this album, I explored the other side of Christmas — the Christmas of the lonely people and the missing ones, the Christmas for those that do not find joy in the blinking lights and the jingle bells. -- Tarja"O Come, Come, Emmanuel" kicks off From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) quite deceptively. It's extremely dressed down, barren of effects, most likely and rightly to highlight the dark angelic voice of Tarja. Soon however, the orchestra kicks in. I hope you make room for a new set of goosebumps. Tarja's voice produces one set, the grand orchestration another ... you know, basically like every Nightwish song ever. The second track is the one original tune on the CD. "Together" has an intro that is part Danny Elfman and part American Horror Story (Coven) and it's the loneliest Christmas song I've ever heard. It's entirely possible that before this CD is over, I may look forward to the holidays if for no other reason than to torture my blinking-lights-loving relatives. "We Three Kings" presents like a possessed music box full of haunting memories, a desert of Christmases past for maudlin souls. "Deck The Halls" delivers on the promise of a dark score and its dissidence is bone chilling. Children singing "fa la la la la, la la la la " in such a way will not go over well at the mall, but it sure as hell puts a Jack Skeleton smile on my face. All that being said, even a dark intent can't cast a shadow over the beautiful "Pie Jesu." Tarja's treatment of this popular requiem does the song more than justice; she elevates it. I considered skipping over the over-done "Amazing Grace" but decided in fairness to give it a shot. Tarja surprised me. With a War of the Worlds tripod roar underlying the celtic orchestration, Tarja soars above expectations and takes this classic to new heights. I wouldn't call it dark, but I would call it unique.
"O Tannenbaum" calls to mind possessed sugar-plum fairies tip toeing through a Tim Burton forest, and Tarja sounds the most mischievous of them all. The score is a stunning masterpiece, from tiny little music box tones to massive orchestrations. "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" ends this CD and it's sinister as hell. We wish you a merry Christmas? Do we? And do we have a different definition of "merry" or "wish?" And who exactly is "we?" My former goth self so very much wishes this had been in my life earlier. Honestly, "we won't go until we get some" scares the hell out of me. I don't know what figgy pudding is but I'm afraid if I don't have it in my house, bad things will happen, worse-than-mistletoe level bad things.
In the end, From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) achieves its goal and this Grinch's heart grew larger and darker. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make some figgy pudding.
Track List
| O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | ||
| Together | ||
| We Three Kings | ||
| Deck the Halls | ||
| Pie Jesu | ||
| Amazing Grace | ||
| O Tannenbaum | ||
| Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | ||
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen | ||
| Feliz Navidad | ||
| What Child is This | ||
| We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
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