MASTERS OF CHANT CHAPTER II
Gregorian
(Edel/ Universal)
RATING: one and a half
The first “chapter” of this release from concept group Gregorian featured the group covering—nay, bastardizing—popular songs in the guise of mock Gregorian chanting. It was an insult to both the covered songs and the sacred tradition of Gregorian chanting.
Masters of Chant Chapter II offers more of the same New Age-ification of beloved pop and rock hits, with somewhat less disastrous results. But let’s not get carried away here: it’s an improvement on the previous disc, but that’s not saying much.
As always, Gregorian’s chanting does not do any justice to the traditional art. With thin voices and no feel for the material, the only appeal this album has lies in its novelty.
At least it offers plenty of that. The choices for this effort are even more adventurous than in the first, as Gregorian cover everything from Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” to Cat Stevens’ “Lady D’Arbanville” to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” That’s one thing you can say for them: they don’t discriminate between genres. They’re equal-opportunity bastardizers.
Chapter II does have a couple of advantages over the first one. Calling on more musicians to offer better instrumental backing, there is more to listen to in Chapter II than before. There is even the occasional well-placed smattering of electronica to make things a bit more interesting. The album even opens with “Moment of Peace,” an original work from Gregorian collaborating with Sarah Brightman that is actually not unpleasant.
But that doesn’t save the effort. Anybody who knows how moving real Gregorian chanting is will know that this is nothing but a pale and disrespectful imitation. Sadly, this is shaping up to be something of a minor hit among the New Age releases, and I can’t stand the idea that it’s doing so well. It’s nothing like the real thing, people, please. And besides that, it’s just stupid. Stop the madness. Stop buying the album, you freaks.—Kristine Fonacier
(Edel/ Universal)
RATING: one and a half
The first “chapter” of this release from concept group Gregorian featured the group covering—nay, bastardizing—popular songs in the guise of mock Gregorian chanting. It was an insult to both the covered songs and the sacred tradition of Gregorian chanting.
Masters of Chant Chapter II offers more of the same New Age-ification of beloved pop and rock hits, with somewhat less disastrous results. But let’s not get carried away here: it’s an improvement on the previous disc, but that’s not saying much.
As always, Gregorian’s chanting does not do any justice to the traditional art. With thin voices and no feel for the material, the only appeal this album has lies in its novelty.
At least it offers plenty of that. The choices for this effort are even more adventurous than in the first, as Gregorian cover everything from Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” to Cat Stevens’ “Lady D’Arbanville” to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” That’s one thing you can say for them: they don’t discriminate between genres. They’re equal-opportunity bastardizers.
Chapter II does have a couple of advantages over the first one. Calling on more musicians to offer better instrumental backing, there is more to listen to in Chapter II than before. There is even the occasional well-placed smattering of electronica to make things a bit more interesting. The album even opens with “Moment of Peace,” an original work from Gregorian collaborating with Sarah Brightman that is actually not unpleasant.
But that doesn’t save the effort. Anybody who knows how moving real Gregorian chanting is will know that this is nothing but a pale and disrespectful imitation. Sadly, this is shaping up to be something of a minor hit among the New Age releases, and I can’t stand the idea that it’s doing so well. It’s nothing like the real thing, people, please. And besides that, it’s just stupid. Stop the madness. Stop buying the album, you freaks.—Kristine Fonacier
posted by Kristine F. | Tuesday, January 01, 2002
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