My mother was a trained singer, while she and my dad met when they were both members of a choir founded and conducted by my grandfather. I was raised in the church, and perhaps unsurprisingly I was also a soloist, and heard a huge amount of choir music. I am sure this is one reason why I appreciate Mediaeval Baebes so much, as their style and sound deserve to be heard in a cathedral, and it is no surprise that they often play that style of venue. I have only seen them play once, many years ago in Croydon, and am sure it is unlikely I will ever be able to see them again as not many bands make it to the end of the world, but when I hear a new album is about to be released, I get incredibly excited and here is the latest.
The current line-up is Katharine Blake, Fiona Fey, Marie Findlay, Sophia Halberstam, Maya McCourt, and Josephine Ravenheart, and they have been accompanied my multi-instrumentalists Michael York and Charlie Cawood as they work through a collection of material evoking memories both of Christmas and the somewhat darker pre-Christian times. Some of the songs are reworking of well-known carols, others are somewhat older as well as originals. All of them take the incredible vocals arrangements of the ladies, put them with instruments which are often far removed from what expects from a popular group, and creates a very special atmosphere indeed.
“Carol of the Bells” shares it melody with a Ukrainian folk song, while the acapella arrangements of “Mary Fre” are an old text set to Blake’s music, and the Spanish “Ríu Ríu Chíu” feature the Bæbes Superchoir, ten women singing together in the former snooker room of Steve Davis. Some of the songs seem strange, with musical accompaniment taking the listener on a very different journey to those oh so sweet vocals, combining to allow the listener to develop their thoughts and reactions. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” commences with a single vocal until being joined by the rest, yet while there is a recorder providing a melody there is also the drone of a tanpura which takes it in a quite different direction. I always thought of this as a quite simple melody which is sung by young children, but here it is transformed.
That is the strength of the arrangements of Katharine Blake and the prowess of all those involved as they can take something which is quite ordinary and turn it into something very special and quite extraordinary. This is a stunning release which I have enjoyed immensely, and if my mum was still alive, I am sure she would feel the same way.
Rating: 10/10
Links:
https://www.mediaevalbaebes.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bellissimarecords
