IT’S usually a delight to listen to Kiwi songstress Hayley Westenra, and this holiday album is another feather in her cap. Some songs are magical and Westenra’s voice sounds like the gentle chimes of bells.

What delights me more is that she is able to stay true to the original arrangement of the songs. But when she does meddle, she keeps it to the bare minimum so the listener is not caught off-guard by how different his or her favourite Christmas carol sounds.

There’s a mix of old and new on this album. You can find a very spiritual Veni Veni Emmanuel (O Come O Come Emmanuel) and the lulling melody of The Coventry Carol.

I was initially disappointed by her rendition of the Carol of the Bells, one of my favourites. I am used to the more orchestral version of this carol, like the one featured in the first Home Alone movie or the one by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I feel this song is meant to be delivered with great force and energy, which is lacking in Westenra’s rendition. But, although I first found it too light and airy, I eventually learnt to enjoy it.

There are popular Christmas classics, like The Christmas Song and The Little Drummer Boy. But while I think she delivers the more spiritual songs beautifully, she doesn’t seem to reach the same heights when it comes to these more popular numbers. Still, there are a few wonderful new songs like River and a duet with Ronan Keating entitled It’s Only Christmas.

If you feel like you’re missing some winter magic in this hot climate, you’ll appreciate this CD. Merry Christmas!