Despite primarily being known for her acting abilities, this festive offering is actually the third album from Zooey Deschanel and her partner in indie-folk M. Ward. It might seem slightly seasonally premature, but with a mere six weeks until Christmas and shops already bedazzled in tinsel finery, it’s about time to investigate alternatives to that old Now! compilation.

Fans of Deschanel’s kooky, doe-eyed acting will soon realise this is reflected in her singing: despite not having the strongest voice, Zooey’s charming drawl seems of a different era, comparable with the retro stylings of newcomer Lana Del Rey. Her vocals are complemented by the album’s layered crooning backing vocals and the cutesy ukulele twangs which underpin the majority of the tracks, creating a folky-kitsch twist on classic festive hits.

Deschanel’s husky tones shine on opening track “The Christmas Waltz”: the stripped back composition accompanies her old-fashioned vocals perfectly, and there are similarities to Patsy Cline in the country-folk undertones. M. Ward’s musical contribution should not be understated: “Little Saint Nick” displays one of the best arrangements on the album, with a delightful ukulele reworking the surf vibes of the Beach Boys version. By far the highlight of the album has to be the dreamy production of “The Christmas Song” which acts as a brilliant end-point: a sleepy lullaby to accompany that post-turkey feeling.

Yet unfortunately on some tracks Deschanel’s vocal is drowned out in the layered production. On more upbeat numbers such as “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” and “Sleigh Ride”, her drawl simply cannot keep up with the jaunty production. Likewise, on more subdued tracks like “Silver Bells”, the vocals lose their quaint charm and become sleepy to the point of dreariness.

With glimmers of Christmas magic, and given that its main competition in this year’s Christmas compilation market comes from Justin Bieber, She & Him’s album presents a relaxed festive vibe for those who tend to overdose on the tinsel-splattered classics such as Slade. It is an enjoyable take on well-chosen Christmas classics which will perfectly complement that ironic Christmas jumper you’ll be rocking as the festive season draws in.