24 The Chronicle, Thursday, 25th February, 2016. www.chronicleseries.co.uk COMPETITION Win a family ticket to Gulliver’s this Easter

(English translations of the lyrics leaning towards gnawa. This taste chamber choir in residence at are supplied). of ancient music is followed by Northern Illinois University, The songs are all stories about the bright and sprightly Louanse founded to promote contemporary murders and murderers. The tales from Kabako Bourama (ft Ramata choral music and foster new are told in various degrees of Diakité) while Kas2 Kastro’s composers. The conductor is Eric bloodthirsty glee, or rather joyful Adjobawla is reggae, complete A Johnson. PPOPOP world-weariness. The fi rst song with tom tom fi lls. Easy on the This is released tomorrow is Keisari Aleksanteri, in which ear, but the CD assures us that this (Friday) on Divine Art, dda vocalist Heikki Laitinen seems is the music that’s being played 25133. to roll his tongue rather lovingly now on the radios of Mali. JMC First Comes The Night around the tale of regicide, JMC accompanied by accordion player Galina Grigorjeva Kimmo Pohjonen. The song tells Nature Morte of the death of Alexander in a bomb attack: “His legs were CLASSICAL broken/Both of them were shattered/fractured in many Cor Cantiamo Psallite places/ His wounds were terrible. The noble ruler, the Great Tsar protector of the millions sank down into death.” Next up is Rekilauluja Murhamiehistä, which contains We’ve had a couple of Chris some kind of rogue’s reminiscenc- Isaak albums in the last few es from a prison cell: “Because years, but we struggled to fi nd of my wild nature/I don’t intend much to say about them. Well to bow my head” he says, before composed and sung tunes, often telling of tales when “they had with intelligent lyrics, but all a bit, to carry the blood away / in a Even the most average of well, worthy. Often a euphemism damned cows’ bucket.” indie rock bands can litter the for dull. Still best known for “I have been stabbed with a internet with glowing reviews There’s eggs-travagant For full details of , a career-defi ning knife/and struck with an iron and references (usually written by Easter fun for everyone at opening times and to book, tune. He’s popular in the States, weighing-bar/I’ve been jumping This is a rather wonderful friends and family we guess, Gulliver’s this spring! visit: gulliversfun.co.uk but they have lower standards on the fl oor/seven times, holding and will appeal both to and as for all those fi ve-star people who like singing and reviews on Amazon, pfah!) but We’ve teamed up with To be in with a chance than us. my guts in,” he fondly recalls. the children’s theme park of winning a family ticket This new album is completely Musically, it’s a mix of choirs, and those who don’t care we always fi nd it surprising that different, however. He’s gone to accordion-led folk, sea shanties much about choirs but like nice talented people can exist and company to give away for four people to visit Nashville and, if not making a and the avant-garde but it’s never music. produce world-class music three family tickets for Gulliver’s this Easter, country album, it’s an album less than pleasing, with the vocals Clearly, with a stained glass without causing so much as a unforgettable days out. answer this simple that’s heavily infl uenced by a are sung, spoken or chanted. window on the sleeve and a title ripple in cyberspace. Throughout the Easter question. country style of composing, The main attraction is the like Psallite, there’s a religious Such is the case with this, theme: the sleeve notes say an enjoyable choral album, all Extravaganza weekend on Which of these young though lyrically he’s avoided fact that you can’t understand March 26th and 27th there songs about beer, and women the words, so they wash over Psallite is an exhortation to sing the better for not being quite animals isn’t associated who’ve done got up and gone. you as part of the music, the for joy, and the Cor Cantiamo as devotional as the one above, are lots eggstra special with Easter? presents a sample of such music though again it’s not happy-smiley Openers First Comes The Night whole creating an otherworldly activities planned at ● Bunny and Please Don’t Call are good atmosphere. Given the topic and from the 16th century up to the carol singing. Grigorjeva (born Gulliver’s World in pop tunes, the latter in particular the tone, Nick Cave is the obvious present day, taking in a couple 1962) is reportedly one of ● Chick of spirituals on the way. The Estonia’s most popular composers Warrington and Gulliver’s having a strong chorus. They’re comparison, but it’s rootsier than Kingdom at Matlock Bath, ● Puppy immediately likable and anything Cave would do. works are mostly based on or and this CD, recorded in her inspired by psalms. Some of the honour and in her presence, is as well as Gulliver’s Land Send your answer to interesting, somewhere between JMC the Chronicle at 11, High Mark Knopfl er and the Traveling works were commissioned by performed by the Estonian at Milton Keynes. Wilburys. Isaak’s voice is often SDG Music Foundation as part of Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Look out for Easter- Street, Congleton CW12 compared to that of Roy Orbison Various Artists its worldwide Psalms Project. In the sleeve notes, Grigorjeva themed competitions and 1BW using the coupon and that is particularly noticeable Lost in Mali It’s a rich album, by which says she is uncomfortable being below by Thursday, 3rd we mean that it doesn’t make called a composer of religious entertainment on the main on track three, Perfect Lover. stage, including the Easter March. Down In Flames is a more for good background music; it’s music as it sounds “a bit rockabilly tune (with hints of The too demanding. This is not light pretentious”, though she adds: Bunny Parade and the ● Terms and conditions Jordanaires) and the only one and frothy church music you’d “Anything that has not been given ultimate in springtime fun apply. Tickets are non- with lyrics on the sleeve notes: play at Christmas, but meaty and from above, does not fl ow from — the Big Bunny Bounce! refundable, non- “Kennedy got in a Lincoln/Caesar heartfelt songs that were written to above and has no sense at all.” Gulliver’s is open daily transferable and cannot be got it in the back/ Somebody be performed for the Almighty. Possibly because of that The opening piece is inspired attitude, the music is less overtly throughout the Easter used in conjunction with told me Hank Williams died in school holidays, with an any other offer. The family his Cadillac”, it’s a witty and by Revelations and as awe-fi lled religious than on the CD above but entertaining tune (another lyric as you might expect. It was has more of a folk/roots feel to it, enormous selection of Easter Extravaganza prize is “Elvis died or did he?”) and written by Ily Matthew Maniano, blending sacred music with music rides, shows and attractions is valid for up to four shows why Isaak is renowned for who is only 28. This is followed from outside the Church. It’s still to discover — and the people (at least one adult his humour. by Chantez a Dieu (Psalm) 96, fairly reverential, though. written by Sweelinck (1562-1621) The programme starts off best news is, everything’s and one child). Winners Reverie that follows is very designed with kids in will be contacted by Isaak, with some of the sound This new release from a Renaissance motet that’s both relatively traditional for choral of Wicked Game. There are 17 Riverboat Records features up and traditional in sound but also church music but gets more mind! Car parking is Gulliver’s hotline to tracks on here, including bonus coming artists from Mali; we’d illustrative of how traditional modern (even avant-garde) as it always free at Gulliver’s arrange their visit to their ones, so we’re not going to list say “ones you’ve not yet heard of” Maniano’s modern piece was. progresses, and the sleeve notes and there is a great preferred park on a them all, but it’s an entertaining but you probably haven’t heard of Psalm 41 by Gavin Bryars (b stress that she evokes not only selection of on-site food mutually agreed date up album that seems more than a cut many people from Mali, though 1943) is more mournful and a Christianity but more pagan there is a good list: Tinariwen, depiction of yearning, the psalm beliefs. Another way of putting offers, or bring your own to 31st May, subject to above much of his more recent Easter picnic. availability. work. This is out now. Amadou and Mariam, Toumani being a plea to God not only it is that the music starts off JMC Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré and of for protection from one’s enemies being familiar to western ears but course the unique Salif Keita. but also from temptation to sin towards the end dives deeply into The tracks on here aren’t (which you knew of course, as did a more eastern European/Russian breaking any new ground and we, and Wikipedia never came sound. Gulliver’s @ Easter there are clear infl uences from into it). There are pieces for vocals and WWORLDORLD across the world, from reggae to Hard Times almost strays into string quartet, mixed choir and Send entries to: the Chronicle, 11 High Street, wistful Clannad territory, as it male choir. music from other parts of Africa, Congleton CW12 1BW by Thursday, 3rd March. Kimmo Pohjonen and the sounds range from your opens with a haunting soprano The music sounds as if she Murder Ballads stereotypical “world” to slicker and lyrics that are more modern pays utmost attention to detail but sounds that are more familiar to than biblical. It’s a good bridge it also fl ows well, too, and there’s western ears. into the fi rst spiritual, By And a lot of silence, which can work NAME...... Opener Nainy Koné and Ne By, a tune you’ll recognise as the effectively if used properly. Sabou is one of the former, a narrator lays down a heavy load This came out last week on repetitive African groove under and repents, trying on his robe at Ondine (ODE 1245-2). ANSWER...... slick vocals. The same is true of the gates of hell. This is followed JMC Ali Baba Cissé’s Kaya, a laid- by a sudden dive back 400 years back rootsy tune. and Exultate Deo. DAY-TIME PHONE...... Miria’s Union Malian Des And there you have it, really; Aveugles opens with funky guitar there’s no point listing to all the CREDITS and could go anywhere until the tracks. You’ve got to want to ADDRESS...... very African groove and vocals embrace the music, and family Stock photos from come in. There’s lots of bass guitar members who dislike this level dreamstime.com; each and harmony in the chorus. of intense praise may fi nd it a photographer’s name is given ...... Last week we reviewed Kimmo Barou Drame’s Diagatoula on bit much, but it’s a powerful CD. in brackets at the bottom of the Pohjonen’s latest album (a take on the other hand is a more stripped If you’re a singer and want to story. accordion-led prog with classical down and traditional sound with study the technicalities, we guess All photographs labelled ...... leanings), but this week it’s one a two-string guitar providing the there’s much to appreciate. The submitted have been sent into he did a couple of years ago. backbone, and percussion from booklet includes all the texts. the “Chronicle”, therefore we Small print: we don’t use entries for anything other than this competition, so there are no It’s in Finnish but it’s wonderful krakebs, giving a sound that’s Cor Cantiamo is a touring cannot supply copies. data protection concerns. Don’t forget your name, address and a daytime telephone number.