I was rather spoilt for choice when it came to selecting a Northern Portrait song. With guitars as sparkling as January icicles, their ‘Criminal Art Lovers’ set was certainly one of the early season highlights and any one of its ten tracks would have settled in here nicely. Certainly the shimmering ‘Life Returns To Normal’ would have been an ideal choice, yet it is that single’s flip side that gets the nod. ‘Some People’, being an old Cliff Richard tune, would have been a favourite for any festive seasonal list even if it had not sounded so spectacular in this guise. After all, what is any vaguely Christmas themed musical list without reference to Sir Clifford of Richards?
I know there will be sceptics. I know there will be those covering their ears at the very mention of Cliff, or indeed at the thought of a guitar driven Pop that chimes in a way that for many recalls the high points of Those Myths. If you wanted reference points, however, I would urge you to look beyond David Cameron’s favourites and instead cast an eye on Stars of Heaven (it’s the crystal clear beauty of their ‘Sacred Heart Hotel’ set that I think Northern Portrait evoke) and, yes, I will say it again, The Faith Brothers.
Really though those kinds of sage nods and names dropped are just ways for boring old fools like me to establish the fact that we know something of a Pop history. What really matters the most is that Northern Portrait are a group way ahead of almost all of their contemporaries. What matters is that their songs puncture the soul and plant seeds of love and devotion.
Who knew Denmark could sound so glorious?
Northern Portrait - 'Some People'
Buy Northern Portrait's 'Criminal Art Lovers' album on Amazon as a CD
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