Reviewed by Joy Attmore

The well-known experimental band from Albany, Oregon have gone through many line-up and musical changes since their formation in 2001. This Christmas project (sorry we are a bit late, guys.) is a beautiful 11-track creation of melodic, experimental rock. The group have taken classic Christmas carols and reinvented them with their own personal touch. It can be a daring feat to take such classics as "O Holy Night" and give them a fresh edge without ruining the purity of their original form. Falling Up, however, have succeeded in creating delightful new versions and the "O Holy Night Reprise" brings a drum and bass twist to the classic choral sound normally associated with this Christmas hymn. "Sugar Plum Fairy" and "Song In The Air" both seem to start quite abruptly and take a second to warm up but, once caught in their flow, envelope the listener in a full-bodied sound with synthesizers, electronics, guitars and drums being used to their full capacity. The album comes to a graceful close with the instrumental "Silver City Sleeps" that briefly takes on a feel of a sleepy French town with the use of a concertina. It's not often that you come by a Christmas album that you will more than happily play for the whole holiday season rather than want to break after one hearing, but this is one of them.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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