Peaness Christmas single

Peaness: Kiss Me Sweat Pea b/w Sad Season
(Totally Snick Records, SNICK 7, UK, 2023, 45 rpm, small hole, 198 copies)

In the early days of Christmas pop music, the 1950s and early 1960s, a common format for groups that recorded two Christmas originals for a single, was to have one up tempo song that celebrated the joys of Christmas and a ballad that touched on the melancholic side of Christmas to fill both sides of the record. It is this format that the cleverly (and a bit naughty) named female indie pop trio Peaness return to on their first Christmas effort.

Peaness was formed in 2014 by Carlea Balbenta (Balla), Jessica Branley (Jess) and Rachel Williams (Rach), who met each other during their studies at the University of Chester. Since then, they have recorded for several smaller labels (like Alcopop!, Odd Box and Kingfisher Bluez, a label known for releasing a yearly Christmas single). Peaness’ 2022 debut full length was released on their own Totally Snick Records, and so is this Christmas single. The single, that comes in a pink die cut sleeve, while the labels have the shape of cartoon peas, has two originals, the poppy A-side ‘Kiss Me Sweet Pea’ and the melancholic B-side ‘Sad Season’.

‘Kiss Me Sweet Pea’ has everything you have come to expect from a Christmas pop song since the Phil Spector Christmas album: bells, vocal harmonies, lyrics mentioning mistletoe, sleigh riding and presents. Add to that some loud guitars and, to quote the press release, even ‘a nod to the classic Nolly Holder scream’. The press release also talks about the song having a key change, and that is indeed the case. ‘Kiss Me Sweet Pea’ doesn’t paint a positive picture of Christmas to begin with: “It's that time yet again / Am I losing my head? / I'm filling with dread / Since October 31st / I've been thinking the worst / It's all too rehearsed...”. But then, everything changes: the radio starts playing the same old songs again and there it is, the mood change! Gone is the dread. Instead, you start thinking about all the nice things you will do at Christmas time, when you are together again with your loved one.

So indeed, ‘Kiss Me Sweet Pea’ is a feel-good Christmas song that will cheer you up, even more so if you watch the video, as that is as sweet as the song. In the video, band members Balla and Rach are enjoying every moment of the day before Christmas, with their red Christmas hats on, while grinch Jess is dragged along, wearing a black ‘Bah Humbug’ hat and being annoyed about everything that comes with Christmas. The Christmas-market. The snow. Baking cookies. Hanging the stockings. Putting the presents under the Christmas tree. That is, until the morning, when she sees what Santa has brough for her! And soon the black grinch hat is changed for a red Santa hat and the Christmas party is on. With ‘Kiss Me Sweet Pea’ as the soundtrack.

Such a turn for the better is lacking in ‘Sad Season’. In it, Jess, backed up by piano and strings, sings about being alone of Christmas while everybody else is enjoying themselves. At the end of the song, she desperately asks herself "When will my Christmas be like it's supposed to be?". If you would have told me that ‘Sad Season’ is a cover of a song written in the 1940s or 1950s by one of the great songwriters of that time, I would completely have believed it. Christmas songs don’t come much sadder as ‘Sad Season’. But it is beautiful in all its sadness.

I would have loved to have Peaness been part of the Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club, but, unfortunately, that never happened. But I was right in thinking they could come up with a great indie pop Christmas single, as this single shows. I am very happy that a Peaness Christmas single materialized after all. Already one of the highlights of the 2023 Christmas season! Get yourself a copy while it is still available. Because Peaness records tend to sell out quickly.

You can watch the video of ‘Kiss Me Sweet Pea’ here:

And listen to both songs and also order the single at Peaness’ Bandcamp: