kitschness

"Everybody loves the cheesy kitschness of this era at Christmas," he says.

A musty, chintzy kitschness lingers about the Palace of Westminster.

It's got lots of comic elements - the men dressing up, the over-the-top nature of the performance, the kitschness of the concept.

This bid to make a "holiday album for everyone" might sound dreadfully self-righteous, were it not for three things: Pink Martini's ability to leaven sincerity with kitschness; the sumptuous musicianship, particularly in the shimmering Ukranian bell carol Shchedryk; and China Forbes's elegant, crisp voice.