Cantamus
The Cantamus Girls Choir (Artist)
Price: £12.99
Normally dispatched within 1-3 days.
Soulful pop anthems with a light, fresh, unusual vocal sound.
Mansfield isn't famous for too many things. Few people outside the town would be able to name anything about the place other than its struggling League Two football team and maybe its Robin Hood railway line, but the former mining community can boast one of the country's most prominent choirs. Its all-girl ensemble Cantamus has been going strong since 1968. As a glance at their website shows, they've been winning international prizes regularly ever since - most recently being overall champions at the World Choir Olympics in Germany in 2004.
This recital album is a smooth collection of 13 songs ranging from Coldplay's Fix You to Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and from East 17 to the Korgis. The only classical piece is Schubert's Ave Maria. The arrangements, with synthed strings and gentle percussion, are pleasant and easy-listening-light. The opening track, U2's familiar Joshua Tree gospel-style hit I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For works very nicely and is the one to sample for a feel of this welcoming album, while another pop classic highlight is Paul Simon's Bridge Over Troubled Water.
The choir's repertoire embraces everything from folk to core classical, but this charming MOR-ish CD is a fine calling card that will be on many a Christmas list. It will also help introduce their delightful sound to a lot of people.
The choir defends its Olympic title in China next year, financed by proceeds from this album.
The Robin Hood Line is not the only thing in Mansfield that's going places.
- HMV Choice
One of the most stimulating and regenerating concerts...they performed with a quite outstanding control of dynamic level, pitch and diction.
- The Times
Cantamus performed old and new music from memory with astonishing commitment...they proved impeccable exponents of all their pieces...the whole concert turned out a rare delight.
- The Guardian
Track Listing
- I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
- Fix You
- Everyone's Gotta Learn Sometime
- Universal Song
- So Deep Is The Night
- Bridge Over Troubled Water
- Ave Maria
- Soul Mining
- The Rose
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow
- Stay Another Day
- Serenade
- Allunde
