An East Coast quintet covering a variety of adult contemporary compositions, and one original - "(I Will) Bring You Love," (reminiscent of classic Lamont/Dozier/Holland). The Beatles "Hey Bulldog" is a clever selection, and the arrangement is particularly well-conceived - each part is strong and balances the whole. "Time and Tide" is a great opportunity for Alice Burge, the group's lone female, to let it rip - its range is all over the place, reaching heights where the air gets thin! "Fly Like An Eagle" is tinged by a doo-wop influence - of the sort exemplified by the Persuasions - and it gives the tune an edge that's cool. "Bob Away My Blues" has the group riffing on vocal horn parts and shuffling, while embellishing with slides and chromatic fills. Other songs: "Something To Talk About," "Crazy Love" and more.

The third CD by a group described by a Rolling Stone reviewer as the "best a cappella trio in Australia," "little mountains" is a sign of growing poise and maturity in this, the 8th year since the group got together. It is an eclectic collection of familiar and original songs with a unique sassiness and edgy beat. Sarah Liversidge, Simon Nugent and Carl Pannuzzo's sound is understated, often moody, with laid-back vocal percussion and a self-assured style that vaguely reminds us of a worried Bobby McFerrin. Inadequate attempts to describe them aside, let us say that there are 6 songs here, the title tune, "Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?," "Tumble," "A Dress Made Of Rubies," Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up" and M. Thomas' "For A Short Time." The last two are the only songs familiar to us, and the dark tone of "Don't Give Up" (like a lot of Gabriel's music) fits the Acapelicans like a glove. Envelope-pushing a cappella that is gaining this group a lot of attention!

Listen to "Little Mountains" in Real Audio.

Canvas is Lisa Eve Knight and Jennifer Sharon, sopranos, Karis Pratt and Jocelyn Markey, altos, Dave Doody and Cason Swindle, tenors, Karl Hillstrom, baritone, and James Bacher, bass; they're from Seattle and this is their first CD. This is a fun-sounding, versatile group of singers, who are equally comfortable in several genres. Pop, the upbeat opening ABBA cover, "Take a Chance On Me," an ethereal Beatles' "Blackbird," Harry Belafonte's "Jump in The Line," "Over The Rainbow," Choral: Billy Joel's sweet classic, "And So It Goes." Jazz, "Conjunction Junction," "I'm With You," Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing" an incongruous "Let It Snow," an appropriately crazed "The Simpsons Theme" and the classic "Twisted." An impressive debut CD, and we look forward to even more colorful vocal brushstrokes on the next Canvas!

Whoever said it doesn1⁄4t take a rocket scientist to sing a cappella hasn1⁄4t heard the Chromatics (Padi Boyd, Lisa Kelleher, Paul Kolb, John Meyer, Deb Nixon, Alan Smale and Karen Smale)! Funded by various NASA info groups, this CD doubles as a multimedia CD-ROM containing lesson plans, images, movies, slide shows etc., all about our solar system. With songs like "Nine Planets," "Lunar Love," "Come and Visit Mars" and "Dance of the Planets," the Chromatics1⁄4 purpose, to teach in a fun way, is obvious -- but what is surprising is how good they, and the songs, are. Learn and enjoy!

Listen to "Nine Planets"

Padi Boyd, Lisa Kelleher, Paul Kolb, John Meyer, Deb Nixon, Alan Smale and Karen Smale, the Chromatics, bring us a bright, fresh Christmas CD, featuring standard carols and pop tunes, strikingly arranged. They1⁄4re all here: "Angels We Have Heard On High," "White Christmas," "Let It Snow, Let It Snow," "Frosty/Santa Medley," 14 classic songs to help fill you with the Christmas spirit!

Making their first appearance in our catalog, this talented nine-piece group has produced an entertaining CD that includes various covers such as Rush's "Subdivisions" and Alanis' "Ironic," as well as four originals. The album's opener is "Chromatic Organum," by CASA and Bobs' songbook arranger Anne Raugh, which describes the nature of a cappella singing. Another highlight is "Fast Food," which is capably performed by Padi Boyd. The Chromatics show much promise and we appreciate that they chose some material not typically heard a cappella.

When they first appeared in our catalog with "First Light," Greenbelt, MD's Chromatics were a group of nine mixed voices. By their 2nd , "AstroCappella 2.0," they were 8 voices, by the Christmas CD "Unwrapped," their 3rd, they were 7 voices and predictably on "Mixed," their 4th CD, they are 6, three men and three women. The group wanted "a limited-edition collection that captured our live sound, showcased our newest member, Barry Mahaffey, and included songs that might not otherwise appear on a Chromie CD." Included are some of the group's favorite cover songs, a holiday tune or two that didn't appear on "Unwrapped," and some choral pieces they like "a darn lot!" "A Little Bit of Rock" and "Dance of the Planets" appeared on their astronomy music CD, "AstroCappella," and "Buns and Muffins is from "First Light." Many tracks were recorded in front of a very vocal live audience at the Blue House House Concert in October of 2003. Some favorites among the 11 songs: the manic "Love Shack," Lennon/McCartney's "Because," the silly "The Day After Christmas," a crowd-pleasing "Lion Sleeps Tonight," Abba's "Mamma Mia" and the traditional spiritual "The Water Is Wide." The talented Chromatics are always entertaining, either touching us, teaching us or making us laugh.

The premier recording from The Denver A Cappella Project, delights with their highly eclectic style. This closely knit group sings such favorites as the sentimental "Shenandoah" arranged by James Erb, "Try to Remember," from the Fantastiks, arranged by Gene Puerling and the dazzling Ward Swingle arrangement of "Flight of the Bumblebee." This group will continue to entertain for years to come.

Listen to "I'm A Train" in RealAudio.

Founded in 1999, this excellent Colorado mixed vocal jazz octet jumps right into a bright, bouncing “Let It Snow,” and doesn’t let up until the final note of cut 13, the best “Little Drummer Boy” we’ve heard since M-Pact’s on “Carol Commission.” A very cool “Jingle Bells” cover, a crisp, ringing “Pat-A-Pan,” a wonderfully sexy, upbeat “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” some amazingly complex chords on “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Silent Night,” a brash, scatty “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” a nice caroler’s medley of “Deck the Halls/I Saw Three Ships/We Wish You a Merry Christmas/Holly and the Ivy,” a moving new song, “Christmas in the Trenches” and others. “Please Have Snow” is one of the best Christmas vocal jazz collections we’ve heard in a long time!

Listen to "Boar's Head Carol" in RealAudio.

Our neighbours to the North in Vancouver have treated us to a highly accomplished collection of contemporary songs, of which seven are written by the group themselves. However, to classify the Euphorics as a contemporary group doesn't tell the whole story. In fact, their sound incorporates elements of so many styles, that the result is quite their own. "Tell Them Before It's Too Late" is a revival-style musical sermon that uses the stage as it's pulpit; likewise, "Standing Up For Love" features a soprano part that would do any Southern gospel soloist proud. The Euphorics interpretation of "Bohemian Rhapsody," which as any group of singers know, is a challenging arrangement to execute, ascends into the thrilling crescendo, followed by a freefall into a gutsy "guitar" breakdown. "Message in a Bottle" is uncannily reminescent of the original, given the quality of the tenor lead-it has that same relaxed intensity that Sting is known for. "You Can't Hold On" builds the tension in the verse with a luscious minor sixth chord, resolving to a sunny chorus. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is one of the showpiece songs for any vocal group, and The Euphorics don't stray far from the CSN's trademark harmonies, though they do add a repeating bass motif for depth. An impressive opening move for the Euphorics.

We enjoyed a 10-minute taste of 4-man, 4-woman San Francisco-based FWI at the 2005 Bay Area Regional (OK, actually they appeared as a septet, the maximum that may compete in the Harmony Sweeps). The group, first formed in 1996 as a quartet, love making music together and they wowed the crowd at the Regional with the Texas Swing tune "San Fernando Valley" Palestrina's incongruous, albeit lovely "Sicut Cervus," and the Jefferson Airplane Summer of Love psychedelic anthem, "White Rabbit," all included here. 11 a cappella songs in total, Billy Joel's "And So It Goes," the Rockabilly classics "Truck Drivin' Man" and "High and Lonesome," the very funny "Big and Stupid," our friend Richard Greene's "(Please Come Back and) Mess Me Up Again" and U2's brief, sublime harmonic gem "MLK" are favorites. "FWI At Last" is an impressive debut CD for FWI.

Funky, swinging, contemporary, jazzy: this Canadian nine-member mixed ensemble is a stylistic delegation from a variety of genres. About half of the material is original, composed by Debbie Fleming, who also produced. They scat through the midsection of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town," trilling in the upper registers and shaking the notes, ending on a descending smear. The original, "All I Want For Christmas" (with rhythm track), has a danceable vocal bass groove, while the "Charlie Brown Christmas" segues into "Christmas Time Is Here." The sound is brilliant, with big layered backing chords, and ringing high soprano parts.

A four piece mixed group from Australia, "The Idea of North" has compiled an eclectic mix of songs, performed and arranged in an accessible contemporary jazz style. About half are accompanied; the melody line on "My Funny Valentine" is played by a flugelhorn, and there is bass and percussion on several other songs (bassist Duncan Brown plays in the snappin' and poppin' style of the "Seinfeld" theme). "The 23rd Psalm" (arranged by McFerrin) and "Irish Blessing" reveals a traditional side, and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" has a gospel inflection and ragtime vocal horn solo. James Taylor's "Shed a Little Light" and "That Lonesome Road" are included, as is Harry Connick's "Trouble." This is a "crossover" record: it could qualify in either the contemporary or jazz categories.

Listen to "Sitting in Limbo" in Real Audio.

Fresh from their surprising win at the Harmony Sweepstakes Bay Area Regional, Filipino group III of a Kind brings us an equally surprising first CD. Deeply spiritual singers Gelo Francisco, Edward Granadosin and Annie Nepomuceno, one of few three-singer a cappella groups we have encountered, did not pull off their win because of flashy costumes and knock-your-socks-off dance moves. They did it with powerful harmonies and eye-opening music, both abundantly present on "Back To The Drawing Board." Seven songs: the Hanson's "MMMBop," Sting's "If You Love Somebody (Set Them Free)," Lennon/McCartney's "We Can Work It Out," "Where Is Love," "The Prayer," "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" and "Prayer of St. Francis." The first four songs are a cappella, the last three are accompanied–but beautiful harmonies and soulful singing throughout. Back To The Drawing Board? From their performance in SF and this CD, we think it's more like On To Triumph!

The surprise winners of the San Francisco Bay Area Harmony Sweeps '02 Regional bring us their second CD, which includes a song they performed that night, Michael Jackson's powerful "Man in the Mirror." The three talented singers from the Philippines, two men and one woman, next sing the orchestrally accompanied "Daybreak" and the funk band-accompanied "Tibok." Then comes the lovely "Nahan Hanggang Langit," the beautiful, orchestrally-accompanied "Eres Tu," "Wala Pa Rin," "Never Our Hearts," "Pag-Usapan," "Every Breath You Take," the funky disco tune "Isang Ngiti Mo Lang" and the sweet a cappella "Paalam Na." Certainly more accompaniment than we're used to hearing from the III, but the beautiful voices and harmonies that wowed the Sweeps judges remain.

Sometimes a great thing can be in your own back yard and you don't even know it. Such is the case with The Irrationals, a mixed sextet of really tight voices deep, sultry and rich. One minute the dynamics are pumping with a percussive and poignant arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" only to surprise you with the ability to successfully cover David Byrne's "Slippery People" AND do it well. Gotta love "Codeine", a bluesy rendition of a Buffy Sainte-Marie classic, which goes perfectly with the Bill Wither's anthem "Ain't No Sunshine". This debut is worth checking out for just the "Sweet Inspiration" alone, though I can't imagine not enjoying the "Language of Love". Just trust us!

Although Listen Up! has two excellent recordings, "Shimu Na" and "Al Hanisim," in our catalog, we're happy to welcome their latest CD, "Jewphoria," to the Primarily A Cappella label. Listen Up! is Rebecca Singer, Moshe Mann, Michael Mendelson and Steve Singer. Here are 12 fresh and appealing, often funny, mostly Jewish doo-wop songs: "Oy Mamme Bin Ich Farliebt," "Etz Chayim," "Tzena," "Yom Shabbaton," "Al Kol Eileh," "Tzaddik Katamar" (w/violin accompaniment), "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen," "Under the Chuppah" (a takeoff on "Under The Boardwalk"), "Hineh Ba Hashalom," "Tum Balalaika," "Nisayon" and "Hatikvah." What comes across in all songs is a love for singing, a lot of talent and a sense of fun & celebration-an im-pressive third CD. Listen Up!-we want t hear more!

Listen to "Oy Mame Bin leh Farliebt" or "Tzena"

Vermont-based Random Association is Joe Antonioli, baritone and vocal percussion; Anne Cameron, soprano; Heather Finley, soprano; Rich Redmond, tenor & vocal percussion; Susannah Magee, alto; John Hadden, tenor; and Leigh Guptill, bass. Cameron, Finley and Magee are new to the group since the release of their first cd, "Random Association." This is a four song sampler CD, and the group as usual aims high, focusing on top-40 hits as they did on the first release, where they nicely covered everything from Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Steve Miller's "Fly Like An Eagle" to Toto's "Africa" and Sade's "My Sweetest Taboo." The songs on the sampler are: Carlos Santana's "Smooth," "Just Desserts," written by tenor John Hadden, "You Win," by the Accidentals, and Lennon and McCartney's "Come Together," a somewhat similar version of which also appeared on the first CD.

Los Angeles-based mixed vocal jazz quartet RW&M first came to our attention when they performed a very strong 10-minute set at the 2005 SF Bay Area Harmony Sweeps Regionals. Singing together since 2003, these 4 "chord freaks" have a passion for dangerously close harmonies and "songs that can melt the heart," 12 of which are included on this CD. Some favorites are "This Can't Be Love/Almost Like Being in Love" medley, " the smoky, Latin "Corcovado," the moody "Where Is Love," "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year," Lennon/McCartney's "I Will," "Through the Years" and "Puttin' On The Ritz." Some songs with Bass, Percussion and other accompaniment. Beautifully designed liner notes. A "Cocktail for the Ears" from this talented Retro quartet.

Listen to "Where Is Love?" in RealAudio.

The three men and three women of Swedish Contemporary/Christian sextet Singers have been singing together for 10 years now, and the voices and harmonies are sweet, clear and sure. We were hoping their website would offer clues to how they can juxtapose an energetic Christian tune like "Shackles (Praise You)" with the hip-hop song "No Diggety," but the website is all in Swedish. So we can just sit back and enjoy their cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the r&b classic "I Got A Man" (originally titled "I Got A Woman,") Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror" and "He's (originally She's) Out of My Life," a waltz-like "Kiss From A Rose," "Freedom '90" and "Jesus Christ Lies Here Tonight" without explanation. All songs are sung beautifully, and in perfect English. "Breathing" is a treat!

Listen to "Frozen" in Real Audio.

Every now and then some quality of voice or specific refrain just gets in your head to bounce stereoptically back and forth. That occurred to your reviewer who listened to Helle Henning sing "Calling You," over, and over, and over... She is one of six Danish singers in Singers on the album Singers all of whom are fine lead singers. The jazzy version of "Woody And Dutch On The Slow Train To Peking" (Rickie Lee Jones) and "Perfect Stranger" are positively splendid. After hearing the arrangement of "Babylon Sisters" you'll be wondering why no one else tries to cover it. On second and third listening you'll know why.

OK, so they didn't spend big bucks on the cover art. The bottom line is, Sixth Wave is great! First a sweet cover of the 5th Dimension's "Grazin' in the Grass." Listen to the scat singing on "Gimme That Wine," and you'll wonder why we didn't classify SW under Jazz (we're still on the fence on that one). Then we're treated to the soaring melodies of "Icarus," our favorite cut. Oingo Boingo's "Stay" will have you boogying to the rock-solid vocal percussion. Then a moody, Vox-One-ish "Vincent" features a stellar lead by soprano Cindy Bourquin. Boogie time again with "Pick Up the Pieces," with guest vocal percussionist vitamin g, and great scat by baritone Gary Rosen. 4 Beatles tunes: A jazzy "Blackbird" flies circles around everyone else who ever recorded the song. You'll see "Baby You Can Drive My Car," "Tell Me Why" and "Yesterday" in a whole new light. We loved "Cloudburst," the final tune. Not surprisingly they won the LA regional, and you can see them at the Finals May 5th. Fresh, surprising-you'll love this CD!

Listen to "Grazin in the Grass" in Real Audio.

The live performances Boston's Soundstage 7, Liz, Hyoun, Andrea, Mike, Maddie and Greg, feature whatever music takes their fancy, and ours, as long as it's "fun, crazy, energetic, hip or just plain groovy, baby!" They dig '80s and '90s pop tunes, but their repertoire also includes soul, funk, Latin, folk and more. 12 tunes, some favorites are Sting's "All Four Seasons," The Cure's "The Lovecats," The Story's "Fatso," Ricky Martin's "Shake Your Bon Bon," Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music," Suzanne Vega's "Calypso," and an apparent live parody of Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time," that has the audience roaring with laughter. Soundstage 7 has the kind of spirit, panache and vocal talent and sense of humor that a cappella stars are made of. They have a fresh, professional sound that invites us to join in the fun. An impressive debut CD from these fast-rising a cappella stars!

Los Angeles has spawned the six-member Spiralmouth (four men and two women). With the exception of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Come Together" (a half-time version), "Love Is A Good Thing," and "Spoonman," the CD is all original. Decidedly percussive, augmented by effects processing, the sound is big, multi-dimensional and very tight. "Nothing Is Written" is midtempo modern rock, with enough melody to grab and enough vibe to hook. "Hush," (not the Deep Purple song) is a bittersweet note of goodbye, with inviting harmonies. It's a Seal meets Pearl Jam kind of party: aggressive, but emotional too. Solid songwriting.

An eagerly awaited release from the Oakland California-based Street Sounds. Their vibrant and full sound graces a variety of genres on this baker's dozen of songs, from a doo-wop medley (including "Dancing In The Street" and "My Girl," and featuring a sort of live interview with the group members) to the infectious former hit by the Dramatics, "What You See Is What You Get." In between listen to the original "Kwanzaa Celebration" (one of several Street Sounds compositions), "Route 66" and "(I Can Fly) Jacques Song," the latter two as swingin' as it gets, their chord voicings more than a little suggestive of the Manhattan Transfer. Also, Monk's "Round Midnight" and Waller's "Black and Blue" are lushly fleshed out by the quintet's mix of two male and three female voices. Impressive.

This reviewer rants, raves and generally degenerates into rabid fandom over Tam'Echo'Tam who are a Brussels-based mixed quartet of French, Guyanese, Moroccon and Zairese extraction. They begin composing with improv and vocal games evolving from fun into highly polished songs which retain their playful origins in sounds never before heard. One totally original sound is a sort of warble that the two women have created and others have termed a vocal mandolin. Most of the songs are in French which all the members have in common. If you love international a cappella, this is one of the best!