Mediæval Bæbes

Under the ancient rubrick "Don't judge a book" or in this case, a CD -- "by its cover" I offer as Exhibit "A" this lovely collection of mostly medieval songs, devotional and saecular, by some tender-voiced young women who, for reasons best understood by a bile-specialist, let themselves be represented with semi-soft-core-porn photographs and an album design in the style known as Punk-cum-Early-Pretentious. All that being conceded, they sing beautifully in devotional pieces like "Salva virgo virginum" and "Salva nos" as well as folk-traditional ditties like "Ah si mon moine voulait danser". Much credit goes to Music Director Katharine Blake for her interesting arrangements, which have some charming surprises yet avoid being different for mere difference's sake.… (meer)