Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Chris Squire — Swiss Choir
(Lime Records CV009, 2007, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 2008-10-01

Swiss Choir Cover art

Chris Squire's second solo album since 1975's classic Fish out of Water is actually the third Christmas album from a Yes alumnus... In tow is ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett who contributes leads and acoustic parts that add further credence to this not-so-light-weight English choral project. His playing across the disc makes it an odd departure, which works by adding a hint of a classic Genesis feel to many of the tracks including classy arpeggios and metal tinged solos. Notable cuts include "Sussex Carol" which spotlights Hackett's most prominent fluid lead lines and "Gaudete" which, although varying dramatically from the more well known Steeleye Span arrangement, comes off well due to the strong understated rhythm backing. The track list has a few common points with Jon Anderson's Three Ships on "Ding Dong Merrily on High" and "I Saw Three Ships." Both pieces rely heavily on full choral arrangements to instill a holiday theme less campy than other recordings of this ilk. "O Come O Come Emmanuel" opens with a flute and the bass man's trademark warble while "Personent Hodie" is one of the newer pieces in sung in Latin. Chris's solo vocal is only present on three tracks and is not sung in his standard Yes counterpart harmony range. Although many tracks are previously unknown to Americans, the unique choice of festive songs is what slots this recording in a different niche than your typical holiday fare.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 36, 2007 releases

Related artist(s): Steve Hackett, Chris Squire

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.