Album Notes

Dark holiday tracks from all your favorites. Spend the holidays in style this year. No more barking dogs or Perry Como for you, uh-uh! While away the frigid hours until the important day with strains of Voltaire's eclectic "Peace in the Holy Land," Black Tape For A Blue Girl's crusade "Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah," The Crüxshadows' electro-pop take on Lennon/Ono's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," and Faith and the Muse bringing you the pagan madrigal "A Winter Wassail." All graced by our lovely Dark Angel prepared to brighten many a dark holiday night. Spend the season right, this year. Turn down the lights . . . it's a dark noel!

The Boston Phoenix: Various luminaries of goth cover traditional holiday fare in this compilation. Love Spirals Downward applies a Cocteau Twins-like sound to "Welcome Christmas" with Suzanne Perry's angelic vocals; Faith & the Muse lend their Renaissance rendition of "A Winter Wassail." And led by an eerie group of singers, Black Tape for a Blue Girl's "Chanukkah O Chanukkah" brims with dark gothic overtones. For balance, there are a few more-traditional renditions. This is the perfect Xmas album to play for friends and family to make the holiday just a wee bit weird.