Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Hats off to Bangor's finest that though they've succumbed to recording a Christmas album (available only through iTunes and their website) they've avoided the dread Santa songs which disappointingly clog up many a Christian artist's Yuletide offerings. Not that the material here is entirely incarnation-orientated. There's a surprising cover of Shakin' Stevens' "Merry Christmas Everyone" (which considering its source works surprisingly well re-cast by the Irish folksters) while their version of "Shining Light" shows what we all thought when we first heard it by Northern Ireland rockers Ash - that it's almost a gospel song anyway ("You lit a torch in the infinite/Yeah, you are a shining light"). Elsewhere you've got jolly renditions of "Joy To The World", "O Come All Ye Faithful" and, best of all, a romping rendition of "Ding Dong Merrily On High". All in all, a pretty good set to add some Celtic joy to your Christmas celebrations.

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