i’ve been dreaming lately about the old tuberculosis sanatorium at the edge of town. my grandfather used to work there. i dreamed about being lost there in the dark and in the fog with only a radio stuck between stations, kind of like the one carried by james in silent hill 2.
december is a time of loss for me, and the air of the holy holiday remains tinged with bitter grief. i had the idea to record my own version of “god rest ye merry gentlemen”, my favourite christmas hymn, and wondered what it might sound like coming from an old radio when one was lost at tranquille.
1 corinthians 15: 27-45
god rest ye merry, gentlemen,
let nothing you dismay,
remember christ our savior
was born on christmas day
to save us all from satan’s pow’r
when we were gone astray
o tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
o tidings of comfort and joy.
from god our heav’nly father
a blessed angel came
and unto certain shepherds
brought tidings of the same;
how that in bethlehem was born
the son of god by name.
o tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
o tidings of comfort and joy.
“fear not,” then said the angel,
“let nothing you affright;
this day is born a savior
of a pure virgin bright,
to free all those who trust in him
from satan’s pow’r and might.”
o tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
o tidings of comfort and joy.
the shepherds at those tidings
rejoiced much in their mind,
and left their flocks afeeding,
in tempest, form, and wind,
and went to bethlehem straightway,
this blessed babe to find.
o tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
o tidings of comfort and joy.
now to the lord sing praises
all you within this place,
and with true love and brotherhood
each other now embrace;
this holy tide of christmas
all other doth deface.
o tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
o tidings of comfort and joy.
released December 25, 2025
traditional christmas hymn
recorded december 24, 2025
in a bathroom in kamloops, bc
bandcamp
hospital vespers 