“CHRISTMAS In Liverpool” as song titles go, is something you think you can hear in your head already.
The scouse equivalent of the Pogues' own Fairytale, no? Misty-eyed refrains about the Mersey mistletoe? A table-thumping chorus about getting obliterated on Aussie White in Yates?
Think again, that is a song for another day.
'Christmas can make you feel outside
your memories, outside all the
celebration and togetherness'
Nor will you find any sleigh bells or winter wonderlands in Coyle's lyric of hometown yearning. Nevertheless, anyone whose formative Christmases were spent in Liverpool “laughing in the front room”, “young without the worries”, will recognise it at once. It's the sound of the same port suburbs that saw more soot than they ever did snow.
This Christmas in Liverpool is a song for a certain age and to truly appreciate it you perhaps had to be there, or should we say here.
Peter Coyle (right) And David 'Yorkie' Palmer
The former frontman of The Lotus Eaters delivers a haunting lyric of loss and memory of more innocent times. It is dedicated to his younger sister, Jeanette, who died a year ago, but its theme is universal.
Peter, who grew up on the streets of Anfield was a familiar face around town during the 8 Orgasms club nights which preceded Cream or anything else. He now lives in South West France, but he's here for a series of UK gigs with China Crisis.
He told Liverpool Confidential: “Christmas is a special time of the year but there are always people who struggle for many reasons, one of the most common is that we miss the people who are not here any more, so Christmas can make you feel outside your memories, outside all the celebration and togetherness.
Jeanette And Peter“Christmas in Liverpool is about cherishing the memories and feeling grateful for what we have experienced and shared together, and also Liverpool is my home, always has been always will be, even though I don't live here any more.”
The song, released this week and available on iTunes here, is produced by David “Yorkie” Palmer, ex of Space and currently of Moongoose. There will be an album, Hijacked, early 2014.
In the meantime, catch Peter Coyle with China Crisis, live at the Cavern Club, Mathew Street, on Thursday/Friday Dec 12/13.
