When I reviewed Amber’s previous album, ‘Pure Imagination’, I said that she had a wonderful voice, yet the album did not really work for me, and here I am listening to her first Christmas release and thinking the same thing. One thing that put me off was the contrived conversation at the end of the first song, and here Amber adds some words to the end of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” which has the same effect on me. She has a wonderfully sultry voice, and she has surrounded herself with musicians who really know what they are doing, but the arrangements have no drive or verve, and it is almost as if they are all going through the motions.

Mind you, one has to wonder how many times session musicians have been asked to play the likes of “Winter Wonderland”, “Let It Snow”, or “Winter Wonderland”. I can understand why musicians feel the need to revisit Christmas classics if they are going to put their own stamp on the songs, but when they appear to just go through the motions then one must question the rationale. I cannot imagine myself coming back to this at Christmas, as there is nothing here which is essential or makes me want to play it again.

Rating: 6/10

Links:
https://amberweekes.com/