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Angel Voices
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| Editorial Reviews: | | |  | | There's very little to say about this recording of ethereally beautifully singing by the 24 young English lads who make up the group Libera. Enormously popular in Asia, the group is part of a parish choir in South London that has been around for many years, with of course, changes in personnel as voices change. There are a couple of pieces here by well-known composers--Pachelbel, Sibelius, Holst, Dvorak--but to their music have been added words and, of course, it's all been "arranged." Texts, translations from Latin, and arrangements as well as original music are by Robert Prizeman, the choir's director, and some of the numbers are accompanied by quiet synthesizers, organ, and/or drums. There is something new-age about this project and some might find the effect syrupy, while others might long for the "real" thing, that is, boys with this talent singing some Renaissance or later music that is not designed simply as balm for the ears. But for what it is--a perfectly pitched choir with some outstanding solo work as well, singing easy-to-listen to short numbers--this is just lovely. --Robert Levine | |
| Custom Reviews: | |
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| Disappointing...but brilliant! | |
| | Libera - Angel Voices review
For me, this is Libera's most disappointing album by a handsome margin...and yet I give it five stars! How so? Allow me to explain. I consider myself to be probably Libera's number one fan (see my reviews of their earlier albums!) and after listening to their latest offering, I find myself in two minds to the point of schizophrenia. On the one hand, this album is exactly what you would expect it to be: perfection in both technical and artistic quality. The standard of the vocals is exceptional as always and the production is as faultless as ever. So why the doubts? As I indicated, I am a fanatical admirer of Libera. I have met Robert and the boys on a number of occasions and I have all their albums, even going back to their St Philips Choir days. And therein lies the problem. Anyone who owns their previous two CDs (`Visions' and `Free') will already have no fewer than NINE of the fourteen songs on `Angel Voices'. It is true that there's nothing unusual in seeing reworkings of earlier tracks on Libera albums but, come on guys, in this case the recordings are virtually identical to the ones we already possess. Being the proud owner of their earlier `Libera' and `Luminosa' collections as well, there is practically nothing on `Angel Voices' that I do not already have. I fear that the issue of this album is little more than a `bone' thrown to their fans in the Western World who, unlike our friends in the Far East, have been starved of public performances. However, if you are a new follower of these superb young singers, there is much to be admired here. My favourite Libera track, `I Am The Day', is brilliantly done and you will not fail to be thrilled by standards like `Abide With Me', `I Vow To Thee My Country' and `Be Still My Soul'. And you'll no doubt enjoy `Always With You', a song co-written by Ben Crawley, their former soloist. So the five stars are for performance and technical quality...they get none for originality.
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