Reviewed by Simon Carpenter

Ernest Lough eat your heart out. I don't know what the famous boy singer of the 1920s (whose albums still sell) would have made of his 21st century choir boy-band successors. He would certainly recognise some of their repertoire though, most notably Mendlesohn's "O For The Wings Of A Dove" here given a lush orchestral arrangement by Martin Neary. The three boys selected, Patrick Aspbury, Ben Inman and C J Porter-Thaw, are top class young singers, as you would expect, and are supported by the English Chamber Singers and Players and conducted by Martin Neary. They are joined on one track "Do You Hear What I Hear" by Hayley Westenra. Most of the other 14 tracks are standard popular classic fare - Frank's "Panis Angelicus", "In Paradisum" from Faure's Requiem, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu" and Allegri's "Miserere". But space is also found for some Howard Goodall (the themes from Mr Bean and the Vicar Of Dibley - a pleasant arrangement of Psalm 23), Eric Clapton ("Tears From Heaven") and so on. Musically it is a good mixture, expertly arranged and performed. But spiritually it is a good mirror of modern society where confusion reigns, from the core faith of Psalm 23 to the uncertainty of "Tears From Heaven".

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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