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.