Album review: TARJA – From Spirits And Ghosts (Score For A Dark Christmas)

November 30th, 2017 by jason

earMUSIC [Release date 17.11.17]

Former Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen has been successfully building a solo career where she makes the music she wants to and that suits her vocal style/musical visions.

It comes as no surprise then she has decided to record a Christmas album, but not for her the tinsel ‘n’ tat of many Christmas albums, instead she wanted to make an album that ‘explored the other side of Christmas. The Christmas of the lonely people and the missing ones. The Christmas for those that do not find joy in the blinking lights and the jingle bells.’ To be fair the album title gives a clue to Tarja’s take on Christmas songs/carols as each one is given a suitably grandiose strings/musical arrangement topped off by Tarja’s enchanting vocals.

‘Amazing Grace’ is gloriously OTT in sound and could easily slip into daytime radio being easy on the ear. The darker elements come through on ‘Deck The Halls’ and ‘We Three Kings’ (out doing Dead Can Dance for atmosphere on this one), both you could imagine appearing in a Tim Burton film soundtrack. Deliciously gothic and just a little bit creepy at the same time… ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ mixes the happy message of the original song along with weird bells and vocal effects. If children are annoying you during the festive season, turn this one up as it will scare the little ones away.

Like the Kate Rusby seasonal album reviewed elsewhere, Tarja’s seasonal release is one to be enjoyed at any time of the year, although on a cold winter’s night it does admittedly work best. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)