The holidays; time to get weighed down by the saccharine and sleigh bells. But what is this hope on our snowy horizon? Vince Clarke and Andy Bell have brought an offering for those of us with a bit darker Christmas spirit. Snow Globe is the title of their latest release which just so happens to be a Christmas holiday album, but not really!

While including and mixing up some holiday classics like “Silent Night” and “The Christmas Song” they also have managed to bring us some Erasure originals. Those originals just so happen to be completely androgynous to the holiday. Add or subtract Christmas and you could listen to these songs any time. “Bells of Love” and “Gaudete” (the first single) are just two of the exceptionally uplifting yet darkly fabulous originals.

I’m not one for the usual cheesy celebratory wankfest that is holiday music, but you cannot go wrong with Erasure’s Snow Globe, quite simply because it’s not your usual cheesy holiday record. Vince and Andy have blended the much expected Erasure feel and sound with a bit of snowy madness.

If you were lucky enough to get the deluxe set you also got treated to a cappella, acoustic and spoken word masterpieces. I squealed when I heard them reciting Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus! This deluxe edition also includes (close to my own heart) a radio broadcast created by Vince & Andy of the album with their commentary intermixed throughout, the perfect thing to listen to with a cup of nog, bottle of brandy, and a roaring fire.

The Grinch may have stolen Christmas, but Erasure has given it back to the not so cookie cutter among the underground with this amazing collection called Snow Globe.

— The Artist D | @TheArtistD