A Christmas album by one of synthpop's finest duos? What could possibly go wrong? Well, very little, in fact. True, not every song here could be deemed a Christmas classic: original tracks Loving Man and There'll Be No Tomorrow are more party anthems than festive numbers. Still, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke put their own unique spin on a spacey Silent Night, Latin carol Gaudete, and the gramophone crackle and soft electronics of White Christmas. The Christmas Song is a particular highlight, its 8bit intro building to a pacy conclusion. Others see Bell, in fine voice, tackle the classics in a more traditional manner, the hymnal Midnight Clear among them. Purists may be aghast at the synthy campness of the standards, but that's one of the most gleefully gratifying things about Snow Globe. erasureinfo.com
Download: Gaudete, The Christmas Song