Reviewed by Tom Lennie

This three-disc box collection is self-described as "the definitive Taize collection", and it's not hard to see why for it contains over two-and-a-half hours of superbly recorded sounds emanating from that French inter-denominational community. Conspicuously, all of these 50 tunes were composed by Taize's main song-writer (at least until the mid-'80s), the Parisian, Jacques Berthier, and every one has the copyright date of 1984. Songs are rendered variably in French, Latin or English, and while all lyrics are provided in the sleevenotes (including translations of French and Latin), we're told absolutely nothing about where the songs were recorded, or when, or who any of the excellent choristers are. While a number of these liturgical pieces contain several verses, many others consist of simple chants comprising just one or two lines, repeated over and again. Most are in fact expressions of adoration to the triune God, and with most tracks being delivered in well-arranged, a cappella, layered vocal format, there's an unhurried sonic beauty attending them which is wonderfully calming and deeply spiritual. As an alternative to more contemporary pop and rock sounds, there's something quite refreshing about tones like these, not least when the three discs here presented are offered at single-album price.

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