It’s hard to write an authentic song of love and romance, and harder still to write original, fresh Christmas music. The brilliantly-named Leicester-based band Mountaintop Junkshop manage to achieve both in one song. ‘Meet Me At the Light Switch On’ finds the perfect balance between festivity and heartache, between melancholy and hope. The narrative that unfolds is right out of a Christmas movie – the story follows missed chances, longing and, ultimately, a couple reconnecting beneath the Christmas lights in an epic tale of small-town love, the sort in which ordinary people’s lives become extraordinary, imbued with a sort of Hollywood magic.
The rich instrumental layers, sweet harmonies, and gently absorbing melody ensure that this is a perfect song for a carefully curated Americana Christmas playlist. In particular, the lush vocal blend is gorgeous, rising over the tuneful keys. By the end, those voices are to the fore as the instrumentation is stripped away, and the feeling we’re left with is wistful nostalgia, just right for a cinematic Christmas story. The accompanying video was made by Fraser West and reinforces the festive feel of the song.
Released on Electric Blanket Records, the single features on a limited edition split 7″ vinyl alongside ‘Tijuana Christmas’ from Wapacheros, a sun-soaked Christmas anthem that is a total contrast to ‘Meet Me at the Light Switch On’. This is a well-crafted Christmas song to put you in the festive spirit – enjoy.
