For those not in the know, thirteen familiar carols take an unexpected turn in the hands of composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Alex Wroten, creator of The Gatekeepers.

Reharmonized melodies, changes of form and sudden stylistic detours make this a holiday record for listeners who like a little disruption with their seasonal cheer.

There is serious arranging beneath the mischief. Wroten is joined by guest vocalists and violinist Jason Walter for a collection that invites a fresh listen to songs most of us think we know by heart.

Alex is a Los Angeles-based, award-winning writer-director-composer with 20+ years of professional experience. His diverse portfolio of projects includes original films, musical scores and documentaries that have gained international acclaim.

Alex owns and operates Well Dang! Productions, serving as creator and producer on documentary and fiction shorts, features, and web series. The full-service production company’s films have been screened in festivals across the globe.

1. Jingle Bells / Carol of the Bells
2. Angels We Have Heard on High
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
4. Oh Christmas Tree
5. The Twelve Days of Christmas
6. Away in a Manger / Silent Night
7. Up on the Housetop
8. We Three Kings
9. O Holy Night
10. Deck the Halls
11. Joy to the World
12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
13. The First Noel

A composer and multi-instrumentalist who builds music like a filmmaker, Alex opens his new festive recording on the sonorously industrial gem Jingle Bells / Carol of the Bells, the harmonic Angels We Have Heard on High and the veritably angelic guitar piece God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and they are in turn backed by the pulsing reverb of Oh Christmas Tree, the Depeche Mode-esque The Twelve Days of Christmas and the ethereally-imbibed Away in a Manger / Silent Night.

Along next is the almost hypnotic Up on the Housetop, the shimmering guitar rocker We Three Kings and the ambiently spatial O Holy Night and then we are gifted the driven guitar piece Deck the Halls, the engaging Joy to the World and the synth-hued, prog-skewed We Wish You a Merry Christmas, the holiday set coming to a close on the atmospheric, almost Celtic in its build, The First Noel.

Official Purchase Link

www.alexwroten.com