Exclusive MP3: Parenthetical Girls: "Festive Friends (Forever)"

Who better to bring good Yuletidings to you and your friends than Zac Pennington's Parenthetical Girls, whose bells- and chimes-frosted songs-- such as those collected on 2006's Safe as Houses (Slender Means Society)-- pretty much sound like twisted carols anyhow?

The P-Girls (in various incarnations) have made a habit out of stuffing stockings with limited edition holiday EPs on the even-numbered years, including 2002's Christmas With Swastika Girls and 2004's Christmas With Parenthetical Girls-- and this being 2006, and six being an even number and all (fact-check it if you don't believe us), it's time for another one.

Santa Pennington and his merry elves will make A Parenthetical Girls Family Christmas (previously sold on tour in limited quantities) available for free download on the band's website very soon-- but the good boys and girls of the Pitchfork readership may download a chestnut of the joy this five-song EP will bring to the world right now.

"Festive Friends (Forever)" glides along at idle sleighride pace, glimmering in garlands of twinkling bell and xylophone percussion, Pennington and backing vocalists' declarations billowing like Yule log smoke from a snow-touched chimney. That's a rather hokey description, but I can't help it-- Christmas songs just make me so damn sentimental.

The Girls have quite a 2007 in store. In March, Oedipus Records will drop Safe as Houses in delicious vinyl format, while Spain's Acuarela Discos intends to share the affair with European audiences in April, bundled with an EP of rare and unreleased material. As the snow melts the Girls will also mount a tour with the Dead Science, dates to be announced.

A Parenthetical Girls Family Christmas:

01 If It's Time for Christmas
02 Do You Fear What I Fear?
03 Carol of the Season
04 Festive Friends (Forever)
05 Last Christmas, Pt. II