Reviewed by Dave Massey

Some of the pieces on this disc sound like they were recorded in a public convenience, with that wet echo and mushy middle frequency. It is nearly always a mistake (in my opinion) to take contemporary songs and try to squeeze them into a 'classical' mould as has been done here. The first track is "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and the choir give it a stiff treatment which robs it of all its subtle syncopation and makes it sound like a school prom gone wrong. If you have heard the BeBe And CeCe version, I think you'd be as disappointed as I was at this one. "Scarborough Fair" comes out decidedly better because canons tend to work better in a choral setting. The choirs are competent and manage some nice dynamics but they have one or two rough moments which are likely to grate. "Memory" by Lloyd Webber seems to be devoid of even the depth of feeling that the music gives on its own and I was left with the opinion that the whole recording was somewhat rushed and ill considered.

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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