Reviewed by Stella Redburn

This internationally acclaimed British acappella vocal group was originally formed by six choral scholars of King's College, Cambridge. They have gone on to make dozens of recordings and perform all over the world. There are no members of the original line-up remaining in the group, but the concept remains unchanged. This is volume three of a series exploring the old and newer songs of the Salvation Army. The music was all new to me but no one could fail to be charmed by the vocal discipline of these singers. Their CD blurb says "spot-on intonation, impeccable vocal blend, flawless articulation of the text and incisive timing" and they are not wrong! It's a pleasure to hear singers listen to each other so closely that it's almost like one person singing. The ethereal counter tenor spins out the top line, and to hear the sensitive tenor and fruity reliable bass voices blend for the crunchy harmonies of, eg, "Sweet Hour Of Prayer", is a treat indeed. Apparently, this bass-baritone blend on which the other voices sit is a principle known as the "pyramid of sound". The new setting of "God Be In My Head" by Kevin Norbury, the song "The Lord Bless Thee And Keep Thee" by Ivor Bosanko and the adaptation of Isaiah 40 by William Himes are all choral gems that will surely find their way into the repertoire of other choral groups. All the pieces are serene and meditational, as indicated by the title track, by Gowans and Bosanko, and the group give a timeless quality to their arrangements by often pausing fractionally at the end of the lines to let the harmonies ring out. A real inspiration both for worshipful listening and for other choirs.

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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