Julianne Regan & Tim Bricheno have released Winter 2025, a Bandcamp digital release of two new winter-themed songs, and a follow-up to their seasonal release from 2023.
The difference in this 2025 Winter release is that these songs are not traditional seasonal songs but two newly written pieces from Regan & Bricheno, though they have their roots and inspiration rooted in the 1800s.
For me Christmas and New Year is a magical time of year. Not for the presents, but for family gatherings and for seasonal traditions such as BBC2’s A Ghost Story For Christmas, the marking of TV programmes to watch in the Christmas Radio Times and reminiscing about holidays from the past, including reminiscence of those we have loved and lost. So I’m a sucker for anything faintly gothic, haunting, set in Victorian times or for music drenched in reverb at this most wonderful time of the year.
Wreaths of Snow is the longest of the two pieces, and has additional lyrics from Julianne, adapted from Fall, Leaves, Fall by Emily Bronte. Opening with piano and aching strings, the arrangement and performance is intensely moving.
“Fly, starlings fly
Leave the shores of Iceland for Ireland”
A tale of seasonal change, the music has an ice-cold but strangely yet comforting feel, with an emotional multi-layered vocal arrangement and performance from Julianne, and a beautifully restrained guitar line, with shades of Gilmour towards the end. When the Rhodes piano hits, that’s me gone!
The Chapel has lyrics by Tim Bricheno, based on Eddi’s Service by Rudyard Kipling. Tim joins Julianne on vocals, which to me delivers a hint of the 1950’s (a great era for holiday music) to The Chapel. Sleigh Bells arrive for a nano-second, and this is the only (tasteful) nod to any of the usual musical Christmas motifs. The force of the reverb is strong on this more minimal of the two tracks, which complement each other so well. I hear hints of This Mortal Coil in the treated guitars and production of The Chapel.
“I must go on with the service
For those who care to attend”
Winter 2025 is a perfect release for the season, and an antidote to the troubled world we live in. I’d rather lose myself in this beautiful music than be troubled by the news or the increasing horrors of social media. Bah humbug!
Both tracks have both been added to my Christmas playlist, and will become part of my holiday soundtrack for many years to come. Right, that’s put me in the mood to watch some 70s Ghost Stories For Christmas. I hope everyone has a peaceful, healthy and magical holiday season. I will rise a glass of Warniks Advocaat to toast the New Year and hope that 2026 is a great year for new music. See you on the other side.
Winter 2025 by Regan & Bricheno
1. Wreaths of Snow 04:32
2. The Chapel 02:12
Available to buy from Bandcamp
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