Amplifier

01.12.09

There is no shortage of great music that would be perfect for the right person as a Christmas gift but for those of you looking for that Christmas styled NZ music gift look no further, we've rounded up a selection of CDs from Amplifier that may be exactly the sort of thing you were looking for.

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra - Christmas In Christchurch

Christmas In Christchurch features Christmas favourites from the CSO including While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night, Little Donkey, and
Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer.

The repertoire has been performed by the orchestra in concerts over the last few years and will be well known
to concert goers.

Carl Doy - Music for Christmas Lovers

Music For Christmas Lovers features acclaimed pianist Carl Doy with members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performing music for the holiday season.

Haley Westenra - Christmas Magic

A magical collection of Christmas songs from the 22 year old singing phenomenon that is Hayley Westenra!

This album combines some of the best loved and most familiar seasonal carols such as Silent Night and Coventry Carol with popular Christmas songs Little Drummer Boy and Sleigh Ride, as well as tracks Hayley has written herself (Peace Shall Come, All With You and Christmas Morning).

The variety of the song choices perfectly showcases the versatility of Hayley's angelic voice and her ability to not only perform in a beautiful, classical way (Corpus Christi Carol) but also in a considerably more 'pop' style (Peace Shall Come).

Hayley can't wait to get into the festive spirit and says: "A Christmas album and a tour to go with it has been a goal of mine for a long time. There is something magical about the music and the time of year when the days grow short and the festive spirit starts to captivate us, and to be performing in such beautiful venues will make these concerts even more special."

True to form, Hayley has once again produced an irresistible record which is guaranteed to make everyone's Christmas that little bit more magical.

The Pirongia Mountain Men - Merry Christmas From The Pirongia Mountain Men

Santa asked the Pirongia Mountain Men to write some nice new Christmas songs. Christmas will never be the same, great excitement!

This album has ten original tracks and cruises out a couple of traditional Christmas blues numbers - Merry Christmas Baby and Santa Claus - plus two Christmas stories told by "The Gardener", Michael Joyce.

Various Artists  - Merry Christmas Baby (For Plunket)

Merry Christmas Baby! features songs by a hand-picked lineup of exceptional local talent, including Jordan Luck, Opshop, Hollie Smith, Annie Crummer, Kirsten Morell (Goldenhorse), Nathan King, Whirimako Black, Shona Laing, Mahinarangi Tocker, House Of Shem, Jackie Clarke & Monique Rhodes!

After expenses are met, all profits will be steered directly back into the 18 Plunket Areas in NZ 

The Phoenix Foundation - Merry Kriskmass

Following in the footsteps of other radio-friendly, smash hit artists like Cliff Richard & The Darkness, MERRY KRISKMASS will include The Phoenix Foundation's first ever Christmas single ''EVERYBODY'S MONEY''.

Although technically nothing to do with Christmas, it will be on the Christmas EP, will be released around Christmas, and is a very nice song.

The Krisk is a small stuffed white man who rides a reindeer. This incongruous character has inspired a nice little EP, which shows a different side to the band, and the same sides all over again.

MERRY KRISKMASS was recorded at the Car Club & Surgery Studio with Lee Prebble & Brett Stanton during the recording of their soon (but not very soon) to be released fourth studio album, of which the title is almost decided but still unknown.

PRE SALE ONLY. RELEASE DATE DEC 7TH.
MP3 Available on the 7th.

Various - Manuia Le Kerisimasi - Kabasa

Manuia Le Kerisimasi (Merry Christmas) collects ten traditional and contemporary Christmas favourites and gives these classics a fresh, Polynesian flava, all sung in the beautiful Samoan language.

Musicians from Fat Freddy's Drop join vocal group Kabasa and Wai to re-intepret and improvise the original songs, dusting them with soulful singing and unique harmonies before pouring them over lazy funk grooves and rhythms.

Tracklisting inlcudes Po Filemu (Silent Night - a capella), Tamaiti Ta Talipalau (Little Drummer Boy - funky down tempo beats), Logo Tagi (Jingle Bells), Tama Kerisimasi Ua Sau I Le A'ai (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - reggae rhythms), Se Toe Fo'i Mai (Please Come Home For Christmas) and Feliz Navidad are harmony drenched slow jams, Sefulu Asi O Le Kerisimasi (Ten Days Of Christmas - lots of fun), Tama A Maria (Mary's Boy Child - beautifully melodic) and finally Kerisimasi Pa'e Pa'e (White Christmas - a spacey funk groove). 

HK Crew - Meri Kirihimete

The HK Crew ("HK" stands for "Hana Koko" which translates to "Santa Claus" in English) comprises members from Fat Freddys Drop, Wai and Maia who were assembled by MC Dasha to create the first ever album of Christmas songs to be recorded in te reo Maori. 

Happy shopping
Amplifier