Review of WInter Magic]So at last my copy of ‘Winter Magic’ arrived! It came while I was in the shower and my housemate, Seb, collected it for me and then immediately came and banged on the door and shouted, ‘Ha Ri is here!’ Seb has studied Japanese and finds the way that ‘Hayley’ is written in Japanese very amusing... but enough of that!
Once I finally managed to prise my CD from the impressively extensive packaging (box, tape, 1 meter of butchers paper, bubble wrap!) I was very pleased with what I held in my hands. The container is slightly thicker than the rest of my jewel cases, so at first touch it felt rather deluxe! The calendar included in the special edition is very beautiful. While it isn’t much of a calendar, the stunning pictures printed on the thick paper make it well worth it.
I scanned the calendar and you can access the images here:
i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu145/iamjillian88/JanFeb.jpgi642.photobucket.com/albums/uu145/iamjillian88/MarApr.jpgi642.photobucket.com/albums/uu145/iamjillian88/MayJun.jpgi642.photobucket.com/albums/uu145/iamjillian88/JulAug.jpgi642.photobucket.com/albums/uu145/iamjillian88/SepOct.jpgi642.photobucket.com/albums/uu145/iamjillian88/NovDec.jpgIn a visual sense, I was very impressed by what this product had to offer. Obviously a lot of care was put into this photo shoot and I think it pictures Hayley perfectly. It’s very glamorous, but at the same time slightly earthy. Hayley looks very beautiful and young but not overdone. This greatly pleased me, as I have always felt that some of the images from the Celtic Treasure/River of Dreams shoot that were constantly being recycled never quite captured Hayley’s youth and beauty adequately. The beautiful clothes, the liberal use of purple with the occasional highlight of colour, the misty backgrounds and striking makeup give the images an almost folk tale like quality. So a big thumbs up there!
Now for the music! Having received the disc right before I had to go to class, my car CD player would have to do the job! I rushed outside to find that some huge, tree-dwelling mammal had defecated all over the side of my poor vehicle. Unimpressed. However, by the first few verses of ‘The Little Road to Bethlehem’ I was positively bursting with happiness! Due to negotiating the traffic and possessing a car which sounds like a bi-plane taking off, I couldn’t fully concentrate on the songs but I made it as far as ‘River’ and was very impressed. On the way home, I gave a friend a lift. I had the CD player turned down and one could barely hear it over the groaning and whining of my car. However, she did catch the chorus of ‘Little Drummer Boy’ and burst out laughing and giggled, ‘Are you listening to Christmas music in October?!’ I’m sure that many HWI members will be getting similar comments!
After visiting the hand car wash and blasting my car with a high pressure hot water hose, I finally had time to sit down and carefully listen to ‘Winter Magic’ from start to finish. On first impression, it was apparent to me that this is very much a post ‘Hayley Sings Japanese Songs era’ album. I feel that this album is a logical step on from the ground gained with those albums. In terms of Hayley’s international material, I have begun to feel that it is a bit saturated with melancholy folky ballads and can be a bit same/same at times. This album, however, is anything but stagnant! The pop influences from the Japanese releases are present in some quite upbeat songs which definitely have a skip in their step! On the other hand, ‘Winter Magic’ also contains some of the most classical sounding material Hayley has recorded so far.
I feel that this fusion of cheer, pop and classical sounds is perfect. The classical sounding tracks showcase the clarity of Hayley’s voice magnificently and overall, I noticed that she is singing higher on most tracks than she has done on previous albums.
Now that I’ve given you my overall impression, here’s a few of my thoughts on a few of the tracks.
The Little Road to BethlehemThe perfect opening track. The cheerful piano and the pretty lyrics about lambs are too much for me! This song just makes me feel very happy. It also sets the scene for the album. It tells the listener, ‘expect something different from Hayley’. I think one of the reasons this track took me by surprise was that most of Hayley’s songs are quite emotive in complex ways, be it tales of love lost or spiritual reflection, whereas this is just a simple, happy tune.
Carol of the BellsAnother upbeat song! Hayley shows of her superb diction and singing capacity in a song that seems to closely resemble a tongue twister! To me, this song has a medieval fayre flavour to it. Favourite part is when she sings, ‘Gaily they ring, while people sing’.
Veni Veni EmmanuelThis a perfect example of the ‘classical sounding’ moments I referred to previously. This song really puts the ‘magic’ in Winter Magic. I love the very old hymns and I feel transported back in time when I listen to this song. The French version of this hymn was written in the 12th Century and if I close my eyes I can almost see the knights riding off on a Crusade to the Holy Land.
Christmas MorningThis song has a very similar effect on me to ‘The Little Road to Bethlehem’. Hayley’s voice tinkles like little bells and it’s quite a delicate, pretty song.
RiverIt’s obvious that Hayley is a big fan of this genre of music. Of all the songs that are in this vein (Never Saw Blue, What You Never Know, Songbird, I Know You By Heart, Talk To Me) this is definitely the best. The lyrics of the sadness at being alone at Christmas are beautiful and very moving. Hayley’s singing on this track is very expressive and she captures the emotions perfectly.
Corpus Christi CarolThis is another carol of Middle English origins. The earliest manuscript was found in 1504 and it is interpreted by some to be about the Holy Grail or even an allegory where Christ is the dying knight. As with Veni Veni Emmanuel, this track definitely conjures up in my mind imaginings of times long gone.
The Coventry CarolYet another beautiful hymn/carol which dates from the 16th Century. This is my favourite of these hymns from ‘Winter Magic’ (at the moment). The way Hayley’s voice blends with the choir is gorgeous. Apparently, this carol refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which King Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed. I discovered this after I’d listened to the track several times. At first listen, this song made me think of stone churches and stormy skies, so song certainly communicates emotions effectively.
Peace Shall ComeThe melancholy of ‘The Coventry Carol’ is well and truly broken by ‘Peace Shall Come’. It is a song Hayley co-wrote with Jeff Franzel (who wrote Never Saw Blue). I think it is the most pop sounding track Hayley has recorded for a Western album. It is one of my favourites on the album and I love the way ‘Tonight’ is repeated over and over. Lots of fun to listen to. I absolutely adore this upbeat pop song and I would be very happy if Hayley recorded more material like this.
On The Wings of TimeA lot has been said about this track already and I don’t think I need say anymore than simply: STUNNING.
Overall, this album has a good amount of balance. It isn’t too much of one thing or the other. The hymns like Coventry Carol do much to counter balance any cheesiness of songs like Sleigh Ride and at the same time, songs like Peace Shall Come and The Little Road to Bethlehem add a lot of fun and cheer. The strength of ‘Winter Magic’ is that (like Pure) it really showcases Hayley’s versatility across a very broad range of genres. Here’s hoping that Hayley’s next major album release will have many of ‘Winter Magic’s’ qualities!
So a big thumbs up from me!
All corrected now.
