I thought I was safe leaving off December for my end of year bests lists, but honestly, this album would’ve made it. It opens with a gathering of people singing, which momentarily put me off a little – it’s a great way to open an album, and you really do get the sense of a family gathering, the warmth and the love and the musical energy, but I wouldn’t want to listen to a whole album done like this. Thankfully, it goes on to touch everything that’s great about Christmas music – from folk to jazz, multilingual, pop, rock, you name it, they go there.

Kate and Anna, the Wainwrights – Loudon, Rufus and Martha – all make themselves known from the faintest sound of their voice in the concord to their solos. They’re not just singing, they really put their heart and soul and identity into the songs. Rufus Wainwright contributes more than I expected – he has two solos and he can frequently be heard in the background. I love Martha’s main song too, and that’s kinda saying something since Martha is still growing on me really. This may be my favourite Christmas album since the St. Winifred’s Choir’s “Christmas for Everyone” pretty much defined the season for me.

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