Artist: Future of Forestry
Album: Advent Christmas EP Volume 3
Label: Credential Recordings
Release: November 12, 2013
I’m not one of those people who have strict personal rules about Christmas music before it’s Christmas season, though I do have reasonable limitations. I’ve always swayed towards more traditional Christmas music and Christmas hymns. I have done this in part because almost everything about Christmas these days, aside from the birth of Christ, is way too materialized and overdone, but also because those traditional songs speak truth and give real meaning to why we celebrate Christmas. While I can sit through maybe thirty seconds of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” there is a collection of Christmas music that I can never get tired of, which has a big part to play in why I can – and do – listen to it almost all year round. This collection is known as the Advent Christmas EP series from Future of Forestry. The third installment was just released this season, and I must say it does not disappoint.
Most people recognize the unique Future of Forestry sound by their complex arrangements, intricate rhythms, and layering that most other bands would be afraid to try, in which fans of FOF can breathe a sigh of relief because these EP’s provide a healthy dose of all things Future of Forestry. However, this latest installment, Advent Christmas EP 3, is the exception. In this review, I’ll break down the album as whole first, and then proceed to dissect it and analyze each song separately. Since the majority of the songs are traditional Christmas classics, this review will be primarily based on the arrangements and musical styles on this album, rather than lyrical content.
Although EP3 starts similarly to its two predecessors, using some sort of glitch-track programming, it exudes a sense of individuality starting on its first note. After the initial note, the first two albums quickly materialize into something much more lively and grandiose, whereas this EP remains relatively calm, which is consistent with the remainder of the album. Advent 3 is unique in the fact that it lacks in loud drums, big orchestrations, and most notably the lack of electric guitar.
Silent Night // Silent Night kicks off this EP wonderfully. Because this is a gentle and warm song lyrically and often stylistically, it is very easy to make this song bland. Most versions I’ve heard never stand out, but Future of Forestry really gives this classic a new flavor. Although it never really crescendos in a contemporary sense of the word, it does a great job of building up and blossoming into something huge. A soft piano guides the song but the song is really led by the string section, which rises and falls to gracefully give the song a splendid dynamic. For being a soft and peaceful song, there is a lot of energy packed into its simplicity. Every time I hear the opening chords, I instantly envision it being played in the closing sequences of a heartwarming drama. Something else worth noting is how perfectly Eric’s vocals matched up with the strings; staying soft for the first verse and sliding into a reverb-drenched falsetto for the second. It gave the track a great lift from calm and serene to lively and vibrant. I must say it has quickly become my favorite rendition of the classic.
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring //This track gives the album a fun and energized feel to a relatively relaxed track list. Bouncy strings and cheerful chimes dance around while Eric’s vocals, accompanied by graceful chorale arrangements, blend beautifully to give a modern, spirited feel to an age-old classic. I love what they did with the percussion section, altering between simple tom rhythms to rim shots and clapping throughout the song. My favorite part of the track is the bridge, where the cellos drop to a minor and the song is led by a melodic violin solo only to explode once more with the full orchestra. I could listen to those vocal harmonies all day.
Carol of the Bells // Once again, a renowned classic. The song is quickly growing on me with each listen through and I will point out the things that I really like about it. I really do like the simplicity of the song and that they did something new and different with it. The instrumentation is great, led by the famous bell melody that you’ll hear in every version of this song ever made, but what really makes this song are the vocals. The background harmonies and the layering of the all the vocal arrangements are amazing. The way the guitar quietly layers in as the song progresses is a great feature as well. I’m not sure if it’s just me or not, but every time I listen to this track, I can’t help but picture the opening title sequence to a classic Bond film.
O’ Come All Ye Faithful // This has to be my favorite on the EP. It has all the elements of a signature Future of Forestry classic: great progression and dynamics, complex arrangements and layering of numerous instruments, hard hitting drums, great guitar riffs, and amazing vocal harmonies. That’s really it in a nutshell. There’s nothing that really stands out individually because the whole song is incredible. It took me a handful of listens to be able to pick out all the orchestration and intricate details of the song. I keep finding more and more things I love about it each time I listen to it. I’d say that my favorite part has to be how the song crescendos into a resounding chorus only to be hushed at the end while Eric softly sings the last line of the song.
Still Still Still // Lastly, we have the Austrian Christmas carol , Still Still Still. Similarly to Silent Night, this track is led by an elegant arrangement of strings. I absolutely love when the cellos dig into the bass notes during the verses and instrumentals. The layering of vocals behind Eric’s falsettos is perfect. The whole song comes together as the song vibrantly explodes during the third and final verse. I love how the lyrics emphasize how much the birth of a child, something so small and dependent, has such a profound effect on our lives, giving us hope and peace. Still Still Still wraps up Advent Christmas EP 3 perfectly.
I highly, highly recommend this album and I hope this review serves its purpose to inspire you and excite you. Give this album a listen for yourself and consider using these arrangements at your Christmas concert or service, maybe even plan ahead for next season. We have done Future of Forestry’s Christmas music at our church for years and remember that you can always simplify the songs to fit the needs of your musicians, or lack thereof, and your congregation. Not everyone will be able to pull of the recorded sound of these songs but you can still use these beautiful arrangements. There’s some amazing stuff here and if you haven’t had a chance, go listen to the first two EP’s as well. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. If you’re like me, you may have just found the few Christmas songs that you can enjoy all year round without feeling guilty.
Merry Christmas,
Casey
