THE ORIGINAL FLYING PICKETS: “Volume One” (East West)

EVEN THOUGH the Flying Pickets appropriate other people’s songs, they make them sound so different it’s hard not to be impressed. Cover version seems an unfair term to use for what they do: re-interpretation would be far more apt.

From the opening single, ‘Under The Bridge’ the tone is set. Chili Peppers fans might be turning in their graves if they were old enough to know what one was, let alone reside in one but the voices intermingle sweetly to create a lush soundscape.

Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’ is given the royal treatment, with someone even almost imitating the guitar solo at the beginning. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ becomes almost a religious experience, all spiralling vocals and resonant baritones. More like Gregorian chanting than Nirvana this, but that’s not to take away from it.

‘Tracks Of My Tears’ is probably the coolest adaptation of the song I’ve ever heard. There’s a revamped version of their classic ‘Only You’, which sounds as fresh as it did back in 1983, Sam Cooke’s ‘Wonderful World’ sounds even more fifties than the original and The Pickets even sing a song called ‘Here, There And Everywhere’, penned by Lennon and McCartney, whoever they were. ‘Road To Nowhere’ creates an atmosphere that David Byrne & Co could never hope to achieve and ‘Take My Breath Away’ is aeons away from the slop served up by Berlin.

There’s a distinctive Yuletide feel to this collection, even though none of the songs are particularly Christmassy. Its universal appeal makes it an ideal stocking filler, even for those among us who wear socks of the argyle variety. In fact, it would go down really well with turkey, ham and a nice big helping of Crimbo Pud.

• John Walshe