Alela Diane & The Hackles - It's Always Christmas Somewhere CD

Alela Diane has always talked about making a classic Christmas album. Last holiday season, Alela‘s husband joked that her song The Pirate’s Gospel was ripe for a Christmas rendition, where the pirate-like lyrics of “yo-ho, yo-ho ho” in the chorus could be adapted to a “ho-ho, ho-ho ho”. The conversation of making a Christmas album continued overseas while Alela was on tour with folk trio The Hackles (Kati Claiborn, Luke Ydstie, Halli Anderson also known from other projects such as Blind Pilot, Horse Feathers and River Whyless) in early 2023. Amused by the idea of Weird Al-ifying The Pirate’s Gospel — one of Diane’s most popular songs in Europe — The Hackles and Alela laughed about the idea of creating The Santa’s Gospel, and shared increasing excitement about collaborating on a full length Christmas album together.
Within a few months of their return from tour, the musicians, all residing in the lush environs of the Pacific Northwest, began to track down their favorite holiday songs and share them among each other to see which ones might stick. Having arrived at a list of favorites, they gathered in the coastal town of Astoria, Oregon in early May and recorded the album in just a few days. Luke and Kati’s daughter Hazel, who is 9, was confused that they were learning Christmas songs at that time of year. One Spring day, while Christmas music was reverberating through their house, she quipped: “Well, I guess It’s Always Christmas Somewhere...” the title stuck. Alela Diane and The Hackles have definitive Christmas album, shrouding some of the classic and most beloved Christmas songs in sparse, delicate arrangements with all the appropriate holiday spices. It is sure to delight the very listeners who, with eager anticipation, pull out all of their decorations and commence decking the halls while queuing up their favorite holiday tunes. Now, they too, can share in the amusement, that no matter how early they kick off the holiday season, “It’s Always Christmas Somewhere.”

Alela Diane has always talked about making a classic Christmas album. Last holiday season, Alela‘s husband joked that her song The Pirate’s Gospel was ripe for a Christmas rendition, where the pirate-like lyrics of “yo-ho, yo-ho ho” in the chorus could be adapted to a “ho-ho, ho-ho ho”. The conversation of making a Christmas album continued overseas while Alela was on tour with folk trio The Hackles (Kati Claiborn, Luke Ydstie, Halli Anderson also known from other projects such as Blind Pilot, Horse Feathers and River Whyless) in early 2023. Amused by the idea of Weird Al-ifying The Pirate’s Gospel — one of Diane’s most popular songs in Europe — The Hackles and Alela laughed about the idea of creating The Santa’s Gospel, and shared increasing excitement about collaborating on a full length Christmas album together.
Within a few months of their return from tour, the musicians, all residing in the lush environs of the Pacific Northwest, began to track down their favorite holiday songs and share them among each other to see which ones might stick. Having arrived at a list of favorites, they gathered in the coastal town of Astoria, Oregon in early May and recorded the album in just a few days. Luke and Kati’s daughter Hazel, who is 9, was confused that they were learning Christmas songs at that time of year. One Spring day, while Christmas music was reverberating through their house, she quipped: “Well, I guess It’s Always Christmas Somewhere...” the title stuck. Alela Diane and The Hackles have definitive Christmas album, shrouding some of the classic and most beloved Christmas songs in sparse, delicate arrangements with all the appropriate holiday spices. It is sure to delight the very listeners who, with eager anticipation, pull out all of their decorations and commence decking the halls while queuing up their favorite holiday tunes. Now, they too, can share in the amusement, that no matter how early they kick off the holiday season, “It’s Always Christmas Somewhere.”

Featuring Take Us Back, White As Diamonds and Lady Divine.

Tracklisting:

Side A:
Dry Grass & Shadows
White As Diamonds
Age Old Blue
To Be Still
Take Us Back
The Alder Trees

Side B:
My Brambles
The Ocean
Every Path
Tatted Lace
Lady Divine

Alela Diane’s debut album, The Pirate’s Gospel was originally only available in hand-stitched runs. Hailing from the deep woods and winding rivers of California Gold Rush town Nevada City, Alela grew up absorbing the folk songs of her musician parents and singing in choir. She began teaching herself guitar and writing her first songs, blending trance-like arpeggios, with warm vocals and meditative lyrics about family and nature. Written in response to a loss of home, The Pirate’s Gospel is a powerful document of personal reevaluation set against the backdrop of generations past and future, mothers and fathers, life, death, and birth. The songs were composed during a trip to Europe and recorded in her father’s studio. The album was formally released in 2006 to critical acclaim. This reissue includes 10 unreleased songs, which offer a deeper glimpse into her earlier work. The vinyl has been out of print for years.