Recorded live in what can best be described as their ‘second home’ in terms of the city of Berlin, Depeche Mode is set with their latest release ‘Live In Berlin’. Available to purchase as a double CD or box set consisting of ‘Live In Berlin’ DVD, double CD, as well as an additional DVD – ‘Alive In Berlin’ – comprising of concert and backstage footage and interviews with band members directed by Anton Corbijn, ‘Live In Berlin’ provides an insight of Depeche Mode’s successful ‘Delta Machine’ tour, which saw the band take in thirty-two countries and performing to over two million people. With such wealth in riches when it comes to their back catalogue, Depeche Mode pick a fine balance of old favourites, such as ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’, along with tracks from the band’s highly regarded ‘Violator’ – ‘Enjoy The Silence’ and ‘Personal Jesus’ – and live favourite ‘Never Let Me Down Again’ from ‘Music For The Masses’. Most pleasing of all, however, was the decision to revaluate one of the key turning points in their career to date with the cobwebs being removed from their ‘Black Celebration’ album, which even sees the surprise inclusion of the song ‘But Not Tonight’ – a former B-side of the single ‘Stripped’ – and Martin Gore in fine fettle behind a solitary piano. With recent songs living up to those of old – in particular the menacing and drawn out beats of ‘Welcome To My World’ and really getting into character of ‘Angel’ – there is something here for all Depeche Mode devotees and those more in tune with recent Depeche Mode activity. ‘Live In Berlin’ is a worthy account of Depeche Mode’s still healthy live presence, and a great showcase of a band’s history meeting with the present, rendering this release as absolutely essential.

There seems to be an unwritten rule when it comes to music, whether in the UK or certain parts of Europe that if one’s chosen career path is of a certain genre, then one has to continue along that chosen path and not digress. Such is the debate currently surrounding Tone Damli’s temporary decision to trade genres from pop music to a more traditional folk sound just in time for the seasonal Christmas rush. The album causing all of the commotion is ‘Di Første Jul’ (‘Your First Christmas’), which happens to be Tone Damli’s first attempt at a Christmas album and one that relies on more traditional songs, as well as lesser known seasonal compositions, personally handpicked by the Norwegian songstress herself. The primary beef with this particular album, from various sections of the Norwegian music press, seems to be the already mentioned trading of genres, whereby a pop artist cannot be taken seriously if attempting anything remotely highbrow as with ‘Di Første Jul’. In addition, there seems to be a few concerns regarding Damli’s decision to bend the rules slightly, by incorporating a specific regional dialect to interpret the songs selected and thereby change some of the texts in order to create a more personal album that is closer to her own heart. While not wishing to enter such a debate – although the first point regarding certain pop celebrities being dismissed when trying their luck at other musical genres riles somewhat – the point to address here is that ‘Di Første Jul’ is actually a good album regardless of past creative endeavours or exchanges of language usage. Getting down to business, ‘Di Første Jul’ is constructed of some fine qualities; namely the delightful vocals of Tone Damli providing the sweetest of touches to the album’s title track and other noteworthy additions as ‘Vi Tenner Våre Lykter’, but also fine musicianship via an assortment of roots instrumentation providing a genuine earthy feel overall, and one that often remains understated. The opening daybreak of ‘Luciasang’, exemplified by its steel strings entrance, is simply glorious, as it then proceeds to go about its business in what sounds like an unfussy manner, when actually there is much detail between its layers with various instruments combining to great effect. The introspective atmosphere given to ‘Snø’ sounds more suited to a rain soaked evening where the car’s wipers are working overtime on the long drive home, but fortunately you’ve got Bruce Springsteen sitting alongside for company. The liner notes for this album release hint at one or two songs containing a less festive tone, but this is part of the appeal of ‘Di Første Jul’ as it’s a Christmas album with a difference as you will hear the odd country twang or the mood can be a tad sombre (‘Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker’). However, all these aspects are to be applauded considering the nature of this album release, and one that is far preferable to hearing Slade’s ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ for the umpteenth time! With Espen Lind providing quality control behind the production desk, the entire blend of this seasonal effort sits perfectly as it considers a variety of emotions which, quite frankly, reflect the shades of colour and light leading up to this particular season. On the evidence of ‘Di Første Jul’, it would seem that pop stars really can operate within different musical genres.

Arriving on the doorstep under the guise of Audiofinger / Spartacus and therefore tossing another spanner in the works as far as one’s true identity goes, (Frank) Benjamin Finger makes a swift return after the soundscape collage that was ‘The Bet’. Follow up ‘Mood Chasers’ is more of the same, only this time out the instrumental passages of sound stick around a while longer emitting a notably heavier presence of electronic noises that adds a sizable filling. Such observations are noticeable from the off with the initial clunking beats parading ‘Dwarf Palms’ before giving way to a wavering frequency of electronic noises that accumulates additional instrumentation just as quickly as it sheds the very same extras. Where ‘The Bet’ was sometimes waiflike in its expressions, ‘Mood Chaser’ is not afraid to spike its sounds with sterner stuff as indicated by the aggressive buzzing infiltrating ‘Saguaro Cactus’ and the incessant swelling and popping of electronic bleeps throughout ‘Moonlight Coma’. The intriguing title given to ‘Nicotine Weather’ provides an altogether different interpretation musically, as its vision is crystal clear as detailed by its lighter ambient tones. Proving that shrewd song titles are not consigned to one alone, the mischievously named ‘Elfin Geezer’ (quite possibly a reference to its creator) transmits its electronic pulses that ricochet back and forth while receiving bouts of tinkering where you can sense Benjamin Finger probing deep beneath the mechanical workings and fiddling with various wires considering the intermittent beeps and noise distortions. Compared to its predecessor, ‘Mood Chaser’ is an album that is more complete in terms of its overall structure yet remains unpredictable in segments due to its restless nature and need for experimentation, which, more often than not, sounds improvised. Keep chasing those moods of inspiration you ‘Elfin Geezer’ as you remain in a minority of a dying breed of mavericks that the world of music could truly do with more.

If this is the sound of mere frivolous fun, then please serve up some more in double quick time! The timing for Great Sale Day and their ‘Wild and Chunky’ first long player finds itself competing for customers’ attentions with America’s Black Friday looming round the corner; the only difference being that the level of seriousness when it comes to maximising full exposure of one’s commercial goods is of a fairly low-key nature when it comes to the former. Hailing from Brighton and therefore signalling another difference to their US counterparts in terms of geographical location, Great Sale Day is the result of a group of friends of former bands, or those still in existence, coming together to create merriment rather than anything overly serious according to guitarist Andrew Fisher: “The band is just something fun that we decided to do while we were out for food one night.” Eleven songs later that form a reunion with a 90s alt-rock sound that is definitely a Stateside influence than anything British, Great Sale Day induce memories of Weezer and Nada Surf with coarse guitars that churn out melodic tunes to the beat of ‘Up In The Clouds’, ‘Best Friends’ and the rather frantic rhythm of ‘Calm Down, Slow Down’.  There are frustrations of the heart during the strolling pace of ‘True (Why Can’t You Be)’, which adds variation to the set; ditto the slow climb from its slumber before slamming on the brakes in throat clearing fashion of ‘Wake Up’ which is definitely not sensing the aforementioned fun but remains one of the frontrunners for strongest track. By giving the impression that ‘Wild and Chunky’ is something of a light-hearted get-together and nothing but a side project until the real work begins, the reality is that Great Sale Day has actually crafted an album’s worth of material that deserves nothing but serious respect.

After a lengthy bout of tour dates throughout 2014, Imperial Leisure show no sign of winding down their schedule as step forth new four-track EP ‘Razzle Dazzle’. Causing reason to celebrate by rejuvenating the classic ska sound of the early eighties, but at the same time dusting this influence down and intertwining it with other components consisting of indie rock and postpunk, Imperial Leisure remain a flailing mass of anxious energy that is underpinned by their frantic sounds and barked vocals. First example fitting this description is the EP’s title track blazing fast on a wave of brass instrumentation and guitars, with a fidgety lead vocal to match the sensitive subject matter at the centre of this song. ‘Festival’ is more concerned with a leisurely pace in order to get its message across as musically it’s less troubled, starting out with simple drums and singular guitar and then supported by some brass and backing vocals before eventually picking its feet up and finding a faster rhythm.  If only all songs could flow with the same brass backing as evidenced throughout ‘Lucky People’, with its midway punctuation via a trumpet that simply enthrals, then the world would truly be a more harmonious place. With recent single ‘Nasty Boy’ applying the final touches with a bitter aftertaste in its mouth and appropriately reflected by a return to the frantic tempo of before, Imperial Leisure is closing the door on 2014 in magnificent style!

Sounding beyond her years rather than the tender age of sixteen, Sarah Nærø Pettersen marks a new entry in her recording diary with the single ‘Burn’. By enlisting songwriter and producer Knut Vegar Prytz, who was involved in the song writing process for Norwegian artist Frøder’s ‘Speed of Sound’ which was B-listed on P3 Radio, this collective meeting of the minds results in a pop ballad that is meditative in its rhythmic pattern, greatly emphasised at first by piano and drums before revealing a richer sound by the time the song’s chorus arrives. While there is an air of confidence surrounding this single, ‘Burn’ is most definitely scorched around its edges with Sarah Næro Pettersen turning in a solemn performance that is struggling with a broken heart yet remains unwilling to give up the slightest glimmer of hope on a relationship that has since expired. ‘Burn’ is an engaging listen brought further to life by an equally impressive vocal that suggests years of experience when, in fact, is just starting out. Such qualities are hard to come by.