Christmas has always been a time of year when Gamine try do something extra special for our darling fans, and this year we have a bumper crop of goodies!

First, we decided to record an extremely epic version of a traditional Christmas carol, 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen', and here it is! When we came to record this new version, we changed the title to 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlefolk' , as our marketing department discovered that there are not that many gentlemen left, and we didn't want to leave anyone out. We also gave it the subtitle 'The Spectre of Archangelus' for reasons so obvious that they need no explanation. And we made a video for it!

youtu.be/qs5JM4AwhsI

Secondly, a special recording of the carol. We recently uncovered a cache of Gamine live videos from shows at the legendary 12-Bar Club in London's Denmark Street (aka Tin Pan Alley), from between 1999 and 2003. The 2001 Christmas show was one of them, and we thought it would be nice to release the audio to 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen' as a single. Unfortunately, the audience chatter was too loud to make this a realistic proposition, so we decided to record a brand new version. But have a look at the live video too - it's delightful!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF4-9VBxZXY

And to round things off for this EP, we've included a little instrumental epilogue, recorded in our own gothic Gamine cathedral. Listen closely and you can hear the bats flying around, up in the rafters.

Next, Claudia has her own fabulous album available on Bandcamp! It's called the Wrath of Love, and there are limited stocks of it on CD too. You'll find it here:

claudiabartonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-wrath-of-love

And lastly, Ian has been busy this year, releasing an album of ambient soundscapes called 'All Becomes Desert', which you can find here:

ianwilliams.bandcamp.com/album/all-becomes-desert

God rest ye merry, gentlefolk
Let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us from all Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From far out in Heaven
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

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind
And went to Bethlehem straightaway
The blessed babe to find
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And when to Bethlehem they came
Whereat the infant lay
They found Him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay
His Mother Mary kneeling
Unto the Lord did pray
Tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the world sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
All others do deface
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy