Named 'Best Holiday Album' at the 1998 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, 'En Riktig Jul' is a gossamer-fine collection of thirteen songs, sung in Swedish. While only 'Stille Nacht' (Silent Night) is recognizable to us non-Swedes, the mood requires no translation. The Real Group's sound integrates the smoothest jazz progressions into an adult contemporary motif, creating a tonal landscape of unsullied purity. The bell chords of 'Sang Till Karl-Bertil Johnsson, 14 ar' segue into an understated lead, spotlighted against an arpeggiated backdrop of notes, melting as they fall...'Glans Over Sjo Och Strand' sounds like a hopeful hymn of possibility to the coming year, while 'Fridfull Och Stilla?' uses binary form to create a musical oxymoron: a rapidly descending series of fifths, juxtaposed between a slow and deliberate 3/4 processional.

Listen to Stilla Natt in RealAudio.