The Christmas Album (Standard Edition)

コンサート・チケットがあっという間に完売になるほどの人気のリベラによる、待望のクリスマス・アルバムの登場！ 彼らの透明なハーモニーが奏でる数々のクリスマスの名曲、クリスマスの雰囲気を美しく彩ります。考えただけでもロマンティックですね。

For an act famed for their angelic vocals and heart-warming celestial sound, it's a surprise that The Christmas Album is the first-ever festive release from South London boy sopranos Libera. As you'd expect from a group who may regularly change their lineup but who haven't changed their sound in 16 years, its mixture of traditional carols, yuletide standards, and rather randomly, Billy Joel's "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)," (which along with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" also appeared on the deluxe edition of 2010's Peace), stick closely to the usual Libera formula of Robert Prizeman's soothing, if often sentimental, minimal arrangements. It's all very pleasant, of course, but apart from a rare tenor vocal courtesy of Josh Madine on "Coventry Carol," and the haunting Gregorian chanting on "Carol of the Bells," there's little here that stands out among the consistently tranquil production, which is sometimes guilty of draining all the seasonal joy out of the source material, while the two uninspiring original compositions ("Jubilate Deo," "Sing the Story") are unlikely to be considered future Christmas classics. However, their soaring harmonies are undoubtedly impressive, and on the likes of "O Holy Night," "Once in Royal David's City," and "Joy to the World," they authentically evoke the atmosphere of a communal midnight mass. Perhaps the most predictable festive album of 2011, The Christmas Album isn't likely to convert any new Libera fans, but it's also equally unlikely to lose any, either. ~ Jon O'Brien

Libera's Christmas Album features the popular London boys' choir in an attractive selection of Christmas music, mostly familiar, but with a few less-well-known pieces. The selection includes a mix of carols, such as "Joy to the World," "O Holy Night," "The First Nowell," and "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks," as well as traditional holiday songs like "White Christmas," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," and Billy Joel's "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)." The sweet-voiced choir of boy trebles, who range in age from about 7 to 16, consists of about 30 singers and is accompanied by an orchestra. Many tracks feature solo singers or small groups, who deliver the music not only with simplicity but with pure tone and a high level of professionalism. The arrangements skillfully exploit the contrast of vocal sounds from the very young to the more mature (but still unchanged) voices. Most of the selections are arranged especially for the group by its founder and conductor, Robert Prizeman. Prizeman's expert arrangements have a warm, soft-focus glow that matches and complements the boys' sound and makes this an ideal album for quiet, meditative holiday listening. EMI's clean sound quality creates an atmosphere of gentle radiance.