Winter Songs

It's taken a little longer than usual this year and it's been a bit of a shock rather than gradually easing into it, but winter has arrived properly now. Sub zero mornings in the country, ice on the leaves lying on the nature strips, hat, coat, scarf and gloves weather, dreary days of rain and gray skies. So I thought I'd mention some appropriate winter songs I've recently stumbled upon in my library.

Concertina Bianco, Pelecis
This is a classical piece from a CD called From Winter's Stillness, some ABC compilation we bought a few years ago. The piano evokes ice glinting in the light. It reminds me of driving through the Grampians in winter one day, past the miniature waterfalls trickling down at the side of the road.

Winter and Icicle, Tori Amos
Under the Pink is an album I associate heavily with this time of year, after listening to the CD while driving up to Mt Donna Buang to see snow for the first time. It was a great day because snow was actually falling. I remember lifting up large clumps of snow and being surprised at how light they were.

Snow, Alex Lloyd
From the one album before he went commercial, Black the Sun. There are a few weather- associated songs on this one too. A lot more electronicky than the later albums, which were more guitar driven.

Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
From No More Shall We Part. Full of angst and featuring a nice little piano riff alongside the heavy guitars.

20 Years of Snow, Regina Spektor
Piano seems to be a recurring theme here, doesn't it? A deft piece of playing from Regina, one of the great tracks on this album full of high points. The part when the rock chant kicks in is fun.