The a cappella
Spooky Men's Chorale, based in Sydney, is an ensemble that sounds like it's having a blast singing its eccentrically wide repertoire, ranging from "Dancing Queen" to Georgian folk songs to selections from Janácek's Glagolitic Mass, with a healthy sampling of original material thrown in. The group of about two-dozen singers is vocally disciplined, with a big warm sound and terrific blend. Director (or "Spookmeister") Stephen Taberner leads them with a sure sense of timing, and he's able to elicit a variety of choral colors based on the type of music they're singing. The arrangements of the Janácek are dark and haunting, and the group performs them with appropriate gravity. The Georgian folk songs are particularly effective -- harmonically complex and colorful, performed with spirit. The majority of the songs are humorous, particularly those by Taberner. His works are musically sophisticated, with sometimes complex harmonies, but they are immediately accessible and often hilarious, dealing with the particular daily conundrums facing middle-aged, middle-class men. The album is a fine example of the high-quality performance possible from a group of committed amateurs, and the evident pleasure of its members is infectious. The sound is variable from track to track, but most are both resonant and intimate.