Gold Baby – Looks Like A Cold, Cold Winter

Gold Baby’s cover of this Bing Crosby classic achieves what every good cover should: it creates a fully believable, beautifully justified, alternative take on a track which both pays homage to the original while staying true to the band’s own originality. It doesn’t attempt to create a carbon copy – far from it – but succeeds at creating the perfect indie Christmas song.

From the opening few moments, the original’s brass and sleigh bells are replaced by pristine guitar arpeggios which set the new vibe for the track, instantly transforming the swinging original into a lush, swaying indie ballad.

Next to enter the mix is the sleek, warm vocals which carry the track throughout. Later supported by resonant harmonies, the vocal performance truly stands out, painting the perfect image in the listener’s mind, arguably with more beauty than the crooning original.

The vocals lead us in to a swinging rhythm section, rich in colour and warmth, and subtly dusted with a festive glow which flows throughout the track.

This song will definitely be on my Christmas playlist this year and in years to come. I hope the band and everyone involved in the production of this track get the recognition they deserve for the wonderful job they’ve done. The changes they made both lyrically, harmonically and in terms of arrangement feel so natural and every decision was executed to perfection.

All proceeds from the sale of this single on bandcamp will be donated to www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.

George Gillott