In a season of comfort and nostalgia, indie music veterans Dean & Britta, alongside Sonic Boom of Spacemen 3, deliver 'A Peace of Us'—a holiday album blending tradition and experimentation. Drawing on early ‘60s pop, garage, country, James Bond soundtracks, Christmas carols, and electronica, the trio crafts a collection that explores the emotional spectrum of the holidays: love, joy, heartache, and regret. Spanning continents, with Dean & Britta in L.A. and Sonic Boom in Portugal, the album unfolds as an organic collaboration, blending their distinct styles with shared vocals, ethereal effects, and a sense of playful yet poignant discovery. Britta aptly describes the result as “like Bing Crosby...on acid,” capturing the holidays’ bittersweet, tragicomic essence.
From David Berman’s haunting “Snow is Falling in Manhattan,” poised to become a holiday classic, to a synth-infused reimagining of Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper,” the album balances exploration and tradition. The trio’s reinterpretation of “Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy” recalls Marlene Dietrich’s German version, weaving their voices into a plea for peace. Rooted in mutual trust and a sense of light amidst darkness, 'A Peace of Us' embraces the complexities of the season, offering a soundtrack for both inner reflection and shared celebration.
