Cantillation
ABC 481 0120
Fifteen of the world’s favourite pop songs are assembled here in choral settings that retain all the excitement, verve and vivacity of the original songs. Of course, pop songs set for choir often do not succeed, but these arrangements (by Dan Walker, Sally Whitwell, Daryl Runswick, Ward Swingle and Roderick Williams) are quite exceptional. Sung by the glorious Cantillation, Australia’s leading chamber choir, this recording is a real winner!
All great selections, this recording covers many legendary pop artists or bands, such as Queen, Lennon and McCartney, David Bowie, Powderfinger, The Beach Boys, ABBA, Chicago, Toto, Sting, and Radiohead.
Resplendant vocal resources of the 21 singers of Cantillation are clearly evidenced in the title track, Bohemian Rhapsody, along with other tracks, such as If You Leave Me Now, Blackbird, Summertime, and Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves), These select singers produce an appealingly blended warm tone throughout, and the close harmony work is quite exceptional.
Vocal harmonies in Toto’s Africa are complemented by the inclusion of drums and percussion to retain authenticity in this song.
The solo voices of Dan Walker and Philip Chu are tantalisingly beautiful in Moon Over Bourbon Street, and How Can I Let You Go? respectively.
Mack the Knife brings to life the flavor of the Swingle Singers, with a rhythmically dynamic arrangement by the great Ward Swingle. No choral pop album could be complete without an ABBA song, and this disc ends with Mamma Mia, in a less predictable, but equally enjoyable version by Sally Whitwell.
Audio available on Soundcloud: http://ab.co/BohemianRhapsody