Download: Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada 5

We are delighted to present the 5th edition of our seasonal compilation series Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada for your listening pleasure.

Once again we out out the call to some of our favourite Canadian artists for a new or alternative songs and they didn’t let us down. Ten of the 14 tracks here were recorded specially for us, encompassing everything from new takes on traditional songs (Montreal’s Light Rail Coyote, who offer their take on Good Ale, a traditional song that, in its earliest incarnations is believed to have appeared as early as 1460), celebrations of home-made Christmas, squelching electronics, jingle bells, egg nog soaked harmonies, kitchen parties, families, loves missed and loves lost and everything in between.

We hope this compilation will serve as an antidote to hearing all the usual festive fare. Everyone involved has given their time and effort for free and for your listening pleasure so if you enjoy the tracks please let them know! At this time of year there are always many charities doing good work to help those in need. We hope that, in the spirit of giving, if you enjoyed this compilation you might consider donating to one of them.

Download Ho!Ho!Ho! Canada 5 here

1. Light Rail Coyote – Ale *
2. Les Breastfeeders – Noel Dans Le Vent
3. Prairie Cat – Count The Thoughts *
4. Chris Mastheim – Winter Wonderland *
5. Carolyn Mark – All Season Tired *
6. Fiver - Sister In The Backseat *
7. Giant Hand – Home Alone (A Christmas Song) *
8. The Elwins – Baby Rudolph
9. Artur Dyjecinski – Frozen Plain Of Christmastime *
10.Magali Meagher & Bob Wiseman – Christmas Song *
11.Paper Beat Scissors & Michael Feuerstack – What Am I (Weather Station Cover)
12.Zachary Lucky – After All The Months We’ve Shared
13.Safia Nolin – Noel Partout *
14.The Mountains & The Trees – Icebergs *

If this isn’t enough Canadian Christmas for you, also check out AA Wallace’s take on Wing’s “Wonderful Christmastime” (and be sure to check out his Little Wayne’s World Mash-Up from earlier this year).The Skydiggers wrap up thier 25th Anniversary year with a Christmas EP including takes on The Pretenders 2000 Miles amongst others. Proceeds go to the Unison benevolent fund. Meanwhile Jon Hynes teams up with fellow Hidden Camera Shaun Brodie for a take on Elvis’ Blue Christmas, and Vancouver’s Kingfisher Bluez label brings together Rose Melberg and Gregory Webster for a run through The Ramones’ “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” in aid of the Suicide and Crisis Centre BC. The Paper Beat Scissors and Michael Feurestack song “What Am I” is a cover of an as yet unreleased Weather Station track, and is used with thanks to our friends at The Pinball Sessions, Guelph. We strongly recommend you check them out!

The album art features Shotgun Jimmie and Paul Henderson photographed during the making of the video for Jimmie’s Mindcrumb on a snowy day in Sackville, New Brunswick by Aaron McKenzie Fraser. It was then doctored by Jon Janes. The compilation wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of Mr. James Bunton. A huge thanks to everyone who made it possible and everyone who gave their time. A special thanks also to Brian Acker and Shane Nadeau of Herohill for their dedication and support.

Oh! Canada, we will be returning in 2014 with a relaunch of our download series, which we hope will introduce you to some of the best new talent coming out of Canada, as well as new material from old favourites. Look out for info on new records from The Wooden Sky, Timber Timbre, The Pack A.D, The Acorn and many more in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the compilation and wish you all a very merry Christmas.