Following her acclaimed 2010 album, Love and Its Opposite Tracey Thorn presents a Christmas album, Tinsel and Lights, featuring ten seasonal cover versions, two new original tracks, and "Green" from Scritti Politti.
Produced by Ewan Pearson, Tinsel and Lights features Tracey s famously rich vocals and contributions on guitar and piano. Her longtime partner, Ben Watt guests on guitar and piano on several tracks. Leo Taylor (Adele, Hot Chip) plays drums, Steve Pearce - who played on Everything But The Girl's feted album, Idlewild - is on bass, while Pearson adds signature synths and electronics. Three tracks include orchestral arrangements by Nick Ingman.
Tracey says, "I ve always wanted to make a Christmas record. Every year, when the Christmas albums start appearing in November, I get jealous and wish I had one coming out. Last year, I made a resolution to get recording in January to be ready for the following Christmas. And so that s just what I did. They re not all strictly Christmas songs, but if they mentioned winter or snow or even just being cold, that was good enough for me."
Tinsel and Lights is available on CD, LP and digital through Merge Records in North America and Strange Feeling in the UK/EU. The LP version will include Tracey's rendition of "25th December," originally written and sung by Ben Watt on Everything But The Girl's 1994 album Amplified Heart.