Fuck, is it that time of year already? Not quite, but apparently we’re close enough for Thorn – she of the dolorous voice behind Everything But The Girl – to release this patchily lovely and forlorn-sounding collection of Christmas covers. As you might expect, her seasonal favourites are not the usual Wham! and Slade; we’re at the Ron Sexsmith and Stephen Merritt end of the scale here. But while the low-key arrangements and melancholic song choices may make ‘Tinsel And Lights’ an EastEnders special of a Christmas album, if you’re planning on a microwaved turkey dinner for one this year, there’s probably no better soundtrack.
Barry Nicolson