Perhaps I'm too biased to give an opinion piece on this beautiful Christmas song. Chris Simmons is someone who I have looked up to with admiration and fondness for many years. It all started with a first glimpse on stage at The Litten Tree busker's night back in around 2000, where I saw Simmons performing with his band Still Willow (they started out as Willow, had a change of line up and couldn't decide on a new name so Still Willow it was) and has continued in a variety of contexts, although more recently just snippets on social media as Simmons has been gracing far bigger stages than I could ever dream of. He has always had a captivating style of performance and when he was on stage would become something I wanted to be. Over the years Simmons has written and released music sporadically and I've enjoyed it all, but this new song hits a different note for me. While it fits well within the existing catalogue in terms of instrumentation, singer/songwriter ballad style, lyrically the song is easier for me to connect with. Simmons has a tendency to use metaphorical references which I can't always understand but these lyrics are literal enough for my heart to resonate. It explores the subject of missing loved ones who are no longer with us, and cherishing those who are. There are so many trivial things that happen repeatedly at Christmas but this song reminds us to be in the moment and focus on the important stuff: family and friends. The arrangement and production of A Cold December plays on the sentiment of the subject, with swelling strings, driving acoustic guitar and an emotional vocal following a melody that pulls at the heartstrings in all the right places. A touch of class from Mr Simmons that I can see becoming a firm favourite year after year.