Description
Bells Merrily, sub-titled The Christmas Recordings, is a Christmas CD-EP by the American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric fame, released on Velvet Blue Music in December 2022. The album was recorded at The Holly Haus and was written and produced by Ronnie Martin (who also provides vocals and Moog synthesizer). Mixed by Frank Lenz.
PROMO
Bells Merrily is a brand new collection of original songs. A deep sense of nostalgia has always coursed through Ronnie Martin’s music; here he leans into the wistful, hushed, slightly melancholy feeling of the season, reflecting on the essential mystery at its core with wide-eyed reverence and sobriety. Martin’s signature Moog Synthesizer melodies twinkle like lights on the tree punctuated by synthesized washes of white noise and sound effects reminding us that old man winter is just outside the tightly shut door. The combined effect produces an ethereal and timeless set of songs that feel like they’ve been with us all along through the years, playing softly in the background while presents are unwrapped and advent candles are lit.
The upcoming Bells Merrily isn’t Martin’s first holiday album. Back in 2003, he released Joy Electric’s The Magic of Christmas, which found him covering both classic carols and holiday standards like «Winter Wonderland» and «Holly Jolly Christmas». However, Bells Merrily consists entirely of original songs that focus on the “wistful, hushed, slightly melancholy feeling of the season, reflecting on the essential mystery at its core with wide-eyed reverence and sobriety.”
That’s certainly the case with the album’s first single, «Lost Christmas Night». Martin’s Moog is as dreamy as can be, with delicate notes drifting down like so many snowflakes. Meanwhile, his breathy vocals and lyrics paint an evocative picture of Christmas evenings of yore. In other words, it’s a Christmas classic as only Ronnie Martin could make.
Bells Merrily will be released on December 2, 2022, but is currently available for pre-order from Velvet Blue Music. [Jason Morehead, Opus, November 8, 2022]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/bells-merrily/1652787215)
CD-EP tracklist:
01. Come O Come Christmastime – 3:06
02. Lost Christmas Night – 2:57
03. Of Garland Bright – 3:54
04. Chorus Noel – 3:24
05. December Frost – 3:03
06. Another Wintertime – 2:57
07. Carols Gloria – 3:10
08. Bells Merrily – 3:12
Note: Released on both cassette and CD. Available at Bandcamp: https://ronniemartin.bandcamp.com/album/bells-merrily
First Single
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