Letters to God (2010)

One of the most versatile musicians of his generation, Richard Rodney Bennett was at the forefront of British musical life for nearly half a century. This new recording from the National Youth Choir of Scotland's National Girls Choir compiles a programme of Bennett's choral works from across his compositional life, as well as a collection of charming folk-tunes and nursery rhymes for piano duet (Over the Hills and Far Away). This is Signum's second release with NYCoS, who in 2011 became the first youth arts organisation to receive a Royal Philharmonic Society Award. It follows their 2010 debut release of Benjamin Britten's 'A Ceremony of Carols' and Elizabeth Poston's 'An English Day-Book' (SIGCD228).

In the form of warm, relaxed letters to a close friend, C. S. Lewis meditates on many puzzling questions concerning the intimate dialogue between man and God. He considers practical and metaphysical aspects of prayer, such as when we pray and where. He questions why we seek to inform God in our prayers if he is omniscient, whether there is an ideal form of prayer, and which of our many selves we show to God while praying. The concluding letter contains provocative thoughts about “liberal Christians,” the soul, and resurrection.

When he recorded the 2018 album The Other, King Tuff's Kyle Thomas had grown weary of the power pop-meets-punk sound of the band and the rock & roll party-guy persona he had crafted to go along with it. Instead, he started making music that was more introspective and darkly psychedelic. 2023's Smalltown Stardust moves even further away from the King Tuff formula in many important ways. Swearing off his sneering vocal style in favor of a heartfelt croon and stashing his guitar away for the most part, Thomas created the album in tandem with housemate Sasami Ashworth. She has a hand in the songwriting and production as well as adding many of the keyboards and strings that add color to the songs.