Sixteenth-century Spanish composer Francisco Guerrero is featured in a reissued disc of motets for four, five, six, eight and 12 voices, with and without instruments. They come from a handful of collections published between 1555 and 1597 and show Guerrero’s skill in evoking a wide range of moods, joyful, sombre and contemplative in turn. Jordi Savall’s ensemble is well-equipped to project the skilfully wrought structures and expressive allure of the music. Some of the pieces fare better than others in respect of vocal texture and ensemble. Tenors and basses occasionally lack tonal refinement but, at their strongest the performances provide a radiant conspectus of Guerrero’s masterly motets.
ZAPPA'S UNIVERSE–a tribute to the work of the guitarist-composer, who was too ill to attend–contains the first recorded live version of "Jazz Discharge Party Hats," the first recorded live instrumental version of "Nite School," the first recorded dual-vocal group version of "Elvis Has Just Left The Building" and the first recorded a capella versions of "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing" and "Heavenly Bank Account." "Sofa" won the 1994 Grammy Award for "Rock Instrumental Performance."
We are in 1990: it's been more than three years since the original ANGE's line-up has been re-activated, creating the album "Sève Qui Peut" (1989). Following the public and critical acclaim, the tour is a huge success. It's the moment when the band's charismatic singer decides to release a new Christian DECAMPS & FILS album, eleven years after "Le Mal D'Adam" (1979)…