From the Vienna-based songwriter who brought us Dream On, Finally Home For Christmas is a welcomed twist of indie realism and power this Christmas. Benjamin Andrews sets the scene well, a timeless tale reimagined with an air of alternative piano-rock and a mighty rising energy.
His first attempt at a ‘real Christmas song’, Finally Home For Christmas feels like a rock power ballad from a simpler era, a twist of Brian Adams gravel and some Elton John piano and inflections, with a progression that tightens its embrace more and more so as things roll along.
Pairing piano and vocals and building this from the ground up, Benjamin Andrews gifts a nostalgic production sound and classic, distinct and honest vocals – captured in only one take, which is sadly unheard of these days – to an original Christmas song that’s beautifully relatable and refreshingly new.
The classic traits maintain a sense of story and that universal longing to be at home for Christmas, but otherwise the track leads with a cinematic rock realism and power, and this really helps it stand out as genuine at this time of year.
Emotionally there’s a definite level of euphoric celebration to the chord pattern and delivery, the arrangement meanders from heartbroken uncertainty, to the ultimate crescendo of satisfaction – a moment in which the patterns resolves, the vocals collaborate, and the instrumental uplifts the entire journey.
Benjamin weaves in layers of strings both fast and quick, Gospel choir vocals for support, and an all round sense of urgency and celebration beautifully intertwined. This is man-made music, organic and meaningful, and it’s everything the season needs this year.
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