Second Hand Orchestra & Gary van der Steur

Last year we had a guestpost by Joris 'Stereo' Gillet on the first album by The Second Hand Orchestra from Sweden. And we're thrilled that they've released a brand new Christmas album again this year, called 'SLOW, this is Christmas!'.
The concept of this album is pretty much similar to the first one: the Swedish 8-piece DIY orchestra with a loose line up of ace musicians coming and going and who is led by Karl Jonas Winqvist, wanted to bring back the love they once had for these Christmas songs. But for this year they like to do it, the album title already gave it away a bit, "in SLOW, trippy versions to avoid any kind of stress". And that has been more than excellently achieved with these ten tracks. Some are new, some are SLOW edits of last year's recordings, but all are a welcome addition to the slow Christmas winter landscape and not to be confused with easy listening.
Wonder what's coming up next year. A binaural beats Christmas album?  

The Second Hand Orchestra Instagram.


Even more remarkable Christmas music. His name sounds pretty familiar to us CAGG Dutchies, but he really is from Los Angeles, America. Gary van der Steur is not only a designer in various disciplines, but also a musician. At least, he has made a Christmas track that you must have heard and that he himself has filed under the name 'Seasonal Brass' and is "for those who dread the Christmas season". Point taken. 

Gary van der Steur Instagram.

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Loser Company - Christmas Mourning

It's a very drizzly rainy morning in da lowlands as we speak. And if twas Christmas right now, this would be a perfect morning for mourning. Beautifully drawn out Christmassy indie rock track by Loser Company from California. Love the bells, love the choirs that sound in the distance, love the little drummer boy-esque drums in the beginning, love the lyrics. Must fit to your mood though. Happy monday morning y'all! 

Their Insta here, X over there.

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Let the BBC take over

Grapes of Grain is a Utrecht-based, Dutch band; Americana is their genre, with some indiepop tendencies. GoG have quite the discography (see HERE), but this is their first dip into Christmas waters. With an EP, three seasonal songs about missing the sun (can relate), about a house lighting up around Christmas time and the prize song, Christmas TV (great theme!). About handing over the reigns to the BBC, and following their flow of Christmas movies. Because, well, is there any better way to spend the holidays?
The video, up above, was shot in one of the most gorgeous Dutch cinema's in Amsterdam.

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WORLD EXCLUSIVE: City Cycles

Swedish band City Cycles (who relocated to London) are so brandspankin' new, their career has yet to take off. They want to get things going with a Christmas original - which is great. It's all aboit choir singing and sixties-vibes (love that orchestration!), with nods to the baroque sound of Honeybus, Zombies and the like. They themselves name The Whitest Boy Alive and Future Island as influences, by the way. It's out on December 6, but thanks to the kind folks over at TCBYML, we can post it now for y'all to enjoy! Just click HERE

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