Snow Globe (album)

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Snow Globe
Erasure Snow Globe.jpg
Studio album by
Erasure
Released11 November 2013
Recorded2013
GenreSynthpop, Christmas
Length44:45
LabelMute
Erasure chronology
Tomorrow's World
(2011) 		Snow Globe
(2013) 		The Violet Flame
(2014)
Singles from Snow Globe
  1. "Gaudete"
    Released: 28 October 2013
  2. "Make It Wonderful"
    Released: 24 February 2014

Snow Globe is the 15th studio album by English synthpop duo Erasure. The album was released through Mute Records on 11 November 2013 in the UK, and 12 November 2013 in North America.[1] The album has a holiday music theme, including classic Christmas carols with original tracks written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell and is produced by longtime collaborator Gareth Jones.[2]

Background[]

The band purposely went with a "stripped-down" and "eerie" feel to many of the tracks, including traditional Christmas ballads "Silent Night" and "White Christmas". Clarke stated, "Everything about Christmas has been written already. We thought it would be more interesting to look into the darker side of the season. For a lot of people, Christmas is not a happy time."[2]

"Blood on the Snow" starts with a scatatto style waltz, whilst "Silver Bells" features an android-like orchestra from the future and explores dark imagery of coal, ash and blood, that give way to a bright star and three gifts.[2]

Singles[]

Snow Globe was preceded by the first single "Gaudete" on 28 October, a dance floor take on the on 16th century medieval Latin carol that was also a hit for Steeleye Span in 1973. The second single is the jubilant "Make it Wonderful" and the first track on the album, "Bells of Love", has been described as John Lennon-esque.

Deluxe edition[]

The second CD of the limited edition of Snow Globe includes an acoustic cover version of the 1980s Christmas pop hit "Stop the Cavalry" by Jona Lewie, the traditional spoken piece editorial of Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, as well as several other acoustic versions and remixes.

Critical response[]

Commercial response to the album was limited. Snow Globe appeared briefly at the lower reaches of the albums charts, peaking at #49 in the UK and #100 in Germany.[3] The album reached #5 and #30 in the UK and US indie albums charts, respectively.

Track listing[]

Snow Globe was initially released as a standard CD, a digital download, and a limited edition 3-CD box set which includes the original album as well as alternative versions.[1] The box set, produced in a single run of 3,000 copies, contained an autographed Christmas card, red 'Erasure' branded Christmas tree ornament, a desktop calendar, postcards, 'Erasure' branded balloons (one red, one green), windows stickers, a bag of sweets, and a cocktail book. It sold out via pre-orders before the official release date.

In 2014, an extended Deluxe Nutcracker Edition digital download was made available, including the album, all additional tracks from the second disc of the box set, as well as additional remixes - comprising 29 tracks in all, as well as the videos for "Gaudete" and "Make It Wonderful".

In 2016, to follow BMG's commemoration of the band's 30th anniversary in releasing all previous albums on vinyl (both reissues, and first-ever pressings), Snow Globe was also issued for the first time on vinyl in an extended 2-LP set of which the first pressings were on white vinyl. The second disc contained a selection of previously released alternate versions and remixes.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bells of Love (Isabelle's of Love)"Andy Bell, Vince Clarke3:59
2."Gaudete"traditional2:43
3."Make It Wonderful"Bell, Clarke3:34
4."Sleep Quietly"Ruth Heller2:52
5."Silent Night"Joseph Mohr, Franz Xaver Gruber3:53
6."Loving Man"Bell, Clarke3:23
7."The Christmas Song"Mel Tormé, Robert Wells2:26
8."Bleak Midwinter"Gustav Holst4:27
9."Blood on the Snow"Bell, Clarke3:43
10."There'll Be No Tomorrow"Bell, Clarke3:39
11."Midnight Clear"Edmund Sears, Richard Storrs Willis3:32
12."White Christmas"Irving Berlin3:29
13."Silver Bells"Jay Livingston, Ray Evans3:05
Limited edition box set disc 2 / Deluxe Nutcracker Edition tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Gaudete" (A Cappella version)2:21
2."Stop the Cavalry" (Acoustic version)2:57
3."Silent Night" (Instrumental version)3:53
4."She Won't Be Home" (2013 Redux)3:09
5."Make It Wonderful" (Acoustic version)3:53
6."God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (2013 Redux)3:20
7."White Christmas" (Instrumental version)3:33
8."Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" (spoken word piece)3:49
Limited edition box set disc 3
No.TitleLength
1."The Erasure Christmas Radio Show" (Recorded Live Inside The Snow Globe)51:52
Deluxe Nutcracker Edition (Additional tracks)
No.TitleLength
1."Gaudete" (Dave Audé Extended Club Mix)6:38
2."Make It Wonderful" (Noel Sanger vs Koishii & Hush Remix)7:38
3."Loving Man" (Knocking Ghost Remix)3:26
4."Gaudete" (Ikon Remix)6:45
5."Sleep Quietly" (Maps Remix)7:12
6."Make It Wonderful" (Bright Light Bright Light Remix)3:53
7."Gaudete" (The Storks Remix)4:45
8."Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" (Jeff Barringer vs. Skerik Remix)4:16
2016 Limited Edition Vinyl Issue (Second Disc)
No.TitleLength
1."She Won't Be Home" (2013 Redux)3:09
2."God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Acoustic version)3:20
3."Make It Wonderful" (Acoustic version)3:53
4."Stop the Cavalry" (Acoustic version)2:57
5."Sleep Quietly" (Maps Remix)7:12
6."Gaudete" (Dave Audé Extended Club Mix)6:38
7."Make It Wonderful" (Bright Light Bright Light Remix)3:53
8."Loving Man" (Knocking Ghost Remix)3:26
9."Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" (Jeff Barringer vs. Skerik Remix)4:16

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "ERASURE – SNOW GLOBE ALBUM". Erasure Information Service. September 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Nagy, Evie (2013-10-28). "Erasure Dances With 'Darker Side' of Christmas on 'Snow Globe'". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  3. ^ "Snow Globe". Official Charts. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
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