The same old Christmas songs get played to death every year and yet more compilation all with the same tracks appear, so it’s nice to have a new one – especially when it’s been sent through with a card from the artist!

The video that accompanies this recording shows the singer playing around in earlier years at Christmas time..that old John Barrowman schtick but kind of endearing if you’re sentimentally inclined…

‘Maybe This Christmas’ aims to capture the profound magic behind the childhood elements of Christmas and how this slips away as we become adults. A universal message of wishing to return to a time of innocence and simplicity and a strong desire to treasure the past. Immediately addressed in the chorus opening line “Wish I didn’t know now, what I didn’t know then”, the song expresses a longing to return to a place where blissful unawareness and imagination conquered all sadness and suffering – to when “snowflakes made the darkness, feel a million miles away”.

Composed by a bit of a dream team of Harriet, Judie Tzuke and Steve Anderson with the latter also arranging and producing the single. ‘Maybe This Christmas’ will be for many a perfect song of melancholy, hope and reflection for Christmas. As the song squeezes tear-drops, the video tempts a warm Christmas glow as Harriet delves into her own personal family photo archives and pieces together video memories from her childhood.

The innocence of Harriet’s eyes as a toddler at Christmas, sparkle amongst the festive lights and wrapping paper; later to reveal the delight of her family Christmases as an older child and teen.  All sung of course by the Harriet that we know today. How does it sound? Well, like people who know what they’re doing have produced the number, form the opening hint at ‘Chestnuts roasting’ before the airy vocal starts on a winteresque melody.

The strings sound so warm and comforting against the twinkly keyboard backing and cooing chorale. The chord sequence evokes classic Carly Simon or earlier ’50s singers like Rosemary Clooney. Harriet’s music has none of the elements that really fire me up eg fire, fuzz, attack, improvisation BUT when you hear tuneful pop music delivered this well and with a subtle warmth and understated power and always in the company of excellent musicians and collaborators…it is time to surrender.

Her breakthrough this year and bright prospects for 2017 truly justify the support and attention some of us have tried to foster for her over the past months. Her album must be the best quality sonic Christmas present you could give any melody lover.

Pete Sargeant

(Many thanks to Sam and Harriet for help with this review)