Kitty Kitten Kristmas (2010), Kingem Records

Continuando con la serie iniciada hace unos días, en la que comenzábamos a mostraros algunas de las numerosísimas muestras de cancionero navideño que nos podemos encontrar en estos días -especialmente aquellas que sean de libre distribución-. En este caso nos detenemos en la recopilación que el sello italiano Kingem Records, dirigido por nuestro amigo Mark Zonda ha publicado para estas fiestas: el bonito recopilatorio Kitty Kitten Kristmas. Se trata de una colección de ocho temas, siete en realidad, más una versión acústica de uno de ellos. En él podemos encontrar básicamente pinceladas del mejor Pop tal y como lo entienden, por ejemplo, gentes como los suecos Stars in Coma, que aportan The Frozen Spectacle, una preciosa balada con el mejor aroma de estas fiestas. Los italianos Tiny Tide han dejado Left alone for Christmas, un animoso tema con aires del mejor C-86 y estribillo pegajoso. The Brigadier han incluido M.i.s.t.l.e.t.o.e., un bonito tema con aires Chamber-Pop. Paisley and Charlie han registrado Unhappy new year. Los otros tres temas corresponden a A Nice Person, Cherry Berry y The Clever Square.

Kitty Kitten Kristmas (2010)

”The idea of having a Christmas compilation in my label started long before even thinking about having a label itself. It was Christmas 2008, when Alessandro Paderno, from The Man Avec Les Lunettes asked me to gather some Japanese artists the next year to arrange a Christmas EP. This proposal came out of the blue during a radio show called Geek Radio, I co-hosted for a special “Sweden Vs Japan Christmas”.
It was so that on Christmas 2009 Tiny Tide composed “XMARS Time”, a psy-folk song on Wayne Coyne from Flaming Lips having a very peculiar Christmas Time on Mars. The song was collected on the “Green Light Xmas” EP along with the contributions from the Japanese bands Clownfish, Hajimepop and Ayumi Nishina. My promise to Alessandro was fulfilled.
Yet, always at Christmastime  during a Tiny Tide band practice rehearsal, Mike Leffe was quite upset I made a Christmas song without me, and told me about this story about an unkown girl seducing him and leaving our poor drummer the very day after Christmas without leaving any trace after having had sex with him. Of course he asked me to put this experience into a song. Another Christmas promise was on the go, and this lead us with our compilation: Kitty Kitten Kristmas, and Tiny Tide track “Left Alone For Christmas”
With me dreaming about being the Keygo Oyamada of situation I have to say that Matt Williasm a.k.a. The Brigadier (UK) is revealing himself as a genuine Louis Philippe, thanks to his original and unfailing choirs and his unique easy listening melodic and unpredictable taste. His “M.I.S.T.L.E.T.O.E.” is a funny ballad on private Christmas parties with catchy Beatles references.
Cherry Berry was meant to be some sort of secret project, and somehow still is. When Mark Berry asked Sara what would have been the title of a would be Cherry Berry song, the answer was as quick as clear:”We HAVE to make it! Of course we’ll name it… Berry Xmas!”. So Christmas spoiled their plain to show off with the whole album to reveal their project to the World!
“Berry Xmas” started with the possibly unreliable news that The Brigadier had ordered a special toy from E-Bay for his song. Bizarre enough both Cherry Berry and Paisley & Charlie sampled the same Christmas toy for their songs! P&C provided such an amazing song, that would have really suited in a Trattoria Records compilation. The band comes from Brighton, ruled the small stages of Indietracks, and it’s a really nice addiction to KinGem Records rooster.
Talking about “being nice”, the almost as well mysterious “A Nice Person” is yet another newelty for this label. The presence of this guy with a Belle &  Sebastianesque track “Holly turns to grey” is a MUST CHECK for Chirstmas, since Mr. Nice usually plays only a live show a year for Christmas since… ages! This guy and his live band The Magic Mushrooms are some kind of institution in Romagna. More sort of an urban legend, possibly not anymore after this debut.
As Anthony Rochester had the occasion to fix his Hammond organ and experimenting come recordings on “Berry Xmas”, its fashinating on how André from Stars in Coma did quite the same with his piano for his charming ballad “The Frozen Spectacle”, a very special Christmas song trying to catch the true essence of this festive day possibly directly influenced by the ghosts of Joni Mitchell and John Lennon.
“Boring Field Trip” is The Clever Square final pun on Christmas in the way “Her Majesty” was for the end of “Abbey Road”. This Christmas indie pop compilation was also an occasion to discover Gec (singer and guitar player) has a notebook in which collecting all of their songs. And I’m not talking Apple!” (kingemrecords.com)

Cómpralo-Get it

01 – Left Alone For Christmas
Tiny Tide
http://www.myspace.com/tinytide

02 – M.I.S.T.L.E.T.O.E.
The Brigadier
http://www.myspace.com/brigadiermusic

03 – Berry Xmas
Cherry Berry (w/ Anthony Rochester)
http://soundcloud.com/cherryberry
http://www.anthonyrochester.com

04 – Unhappy New Year
Paisley & Charlie
http://www.myspace.com/paisleyandcharlie

05 – Holly turns to grey
A Nice Person

06 – The Frozen Spectacle
Stars in Coma
http://www.starsincoma.com

07 – Boring Field Trip
The Clever Square
http://www.myspace.com/thecleversquare

08 – Berry Xmas (Acoustic Version)
Cherry Berry