Joy to the World
Artist: Brian Houston
Label: Brian Houston Songs 
Time: 10 Tracks / 37minutes

Brian Houston has been developing a range of identities lately, from indie singer-songwriter with a touch of the Van Morrisons, through worship leader/ gospel artist to a strongly ‘50s-infuenced sound, and it is the latter that appears on this festive release.

But although Houston wants to evoke memories of youth in this collection, he neatly sidesteps those corny roasting chestnuts and jingling bells to bring an authentic retro set. Largely, he gets away with it because this is a sound he has used on his regular recordings and his genuineness shows through.

It also helps that he has not chosen to rock around the Christmas tree, but gone to carols that have depth – and how he has tweaked them to make them his own.

Is it my imagination, or is there a roundedness to his track selection? In the opening title track, he sings, 

    No more let sins and sorrows grow /nor thorns infest the ground;
    He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found

And as the disc closes, he reprises the theme with a rare verse to “The First Noel:”
 
    Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, there is just one King of Righteousness
    And the angels in heaven above sing of the Lord’s undying love
    And they sing out ‘cross the universe that he gave his life and he broke the curse.

In between he offers hope for fifties-phobes like me, especially on every other song. Those who programme in the even tracks will get an almost a capella “Silent Night;” a strong “Oh, Holy Night” underpinned by the same chugging guitar as part of Floyd’s ”Echoes;” a strong “God Rest You Merry” with its own superb new gospel-infused chorus; and a Celtic jamboree at the end of “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.”

Unfortunately, there is also “Away in a Manger” (see Bethlehem Skyline 2 review) and a version of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” that loses some of its gravitas to country touches – he could do a powerful straight version.

Altogether, although you have to like the style to really enjoy it, this disc keeps you swaying and activates that part of the spirit that resonates with the joy and transforming hope of Christmas. 

Derek Walker