Atheist Xmas is an EP of alternative Christmas songs by Gruff Rhys – an unholy trinity of three turkey-free new tracks for the festive season.

Motown-tinged opener Post Apocalypse Christmas sees Gruff re-imagining the ‘Winterval’ through the semi-melted eyes of a nuclear holocaust survivor.  Humanist hymn At The End Of The Line deploys lush vocal harmonies, saxophone and also features on the soundtrack for Jesus And Mary Chain bassist Douglas Hart’s semi-autobiographical short film, Long Distance Information.  Meanwhile, mournful piano ballad and curtain closer Slashed Wrists This Christmas addresses the seasonally taboo subjects of manic depression and suicide. 

Atheist Xmas is due out on 19th December and Gruff Rhys will be celebrating the EP’s birth with three instore performances on the day of release.  The pilgrimage starts at Spillers Records in Cardiff at 12noon, then heads to Rise in Bristol for 3pm and finishes off at London’s Rough Trade East at 8pm.

Atheist Xmas wraps up a cracker of a year for Gruff Rhys – releasing his heartwarming, highly praised third solo album Hotel Shampoo in February lead to extensive touring and headline performances on the stages of several summer festivals.  More recently, Gruff has unveiled a collaboration with Turner Prize nominated visual artists Phil Collins, and released the Whale Trail single inspired by and created for an accompanying videogame involving a flying whale.