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  Voice
Male is a most unique group; a barbershop quartet with six members.
Well, okay… technically they should be called a 'sextet', but
that just sounds too naughty for a Mormon singing group, eh? And
the reality is that Voice Male embodies the warm voices, tight harmonies
and trademark 'lock' and 'ring' of the classic barbershop quartet,
so I think the term still fits.
The number of LDS a cappella groups is actually quite staggering,
at least as a percentage of the whole of LDS musical artists. Offhand,
I can think of about six or seven of them, ranging from vocal 'boy
bands' to an a cappella comedy troupe. Perhaps members are inspired
to delve into such voice harmony by that little LDS vocal group
that's been giggin' around the world since the 1800's? In any case,
Voice Male is clearly one of the sharpest and most adventurous of
the a cappella family, as their latest offering, Hims II, clearly
demonstrates.
Hims II features the acclaimed a cappella "elder's quorum"
performing twelve renditions of favorite hymns including "The
Spirit of God", "Lead, Kindly Light", "Abide
with Me", "Our Savior's Love", "Where Can I
Turn for Peace?", "How Firm a Foundation", "Come,
Thou Long-Expected Jesus", "There is a Green Hill Far
Away", "Come, O Thou King of Kings", "Be Still,
My Soul", "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" and "Lord,
I Would Follow Thee".
The album is pretty straightforward as far as what it's supposed
to be… a cappella hymn renditions… and each track is what
you would expect in that sense. But Hims II really shines so brightly
because it delivers each track with compelling and virtuosic harmony
arrangements that range from delicately subtle to practically daring,
often within the same song. And the males of Voice Male (Richard
McAllister - tenor, Mike Bearden - tenor, John no-relation-to-George
Huff - baritone, Phil Kesler - baritone, John Luthy - bass/baritone,
Mike Willson - bass) are certainly up to the task of making these
arrangements soar. This metaphor may sound more morbid than the
intended sense of powerful nobility, but they carry tunes like these
with the strength and solemn assurance of pallbearers carrying the
casket of a revered leader.
Mike Bearden also produced this project and was responsible for
some of the arrangements, including the exultant "Spirit of
God", which opens the CD with much grandeur, and the bubbly
"Where Can I Turn for Peace?", where the guys sing background
"oohs" to a guest female choir comprised of Jill Bearden,
Layne also-no-relation-to-George Huff, Valerie Luthy, Jenny McAllister
and Jo Lynn Willson. A look at those last names reveals the obvious
vocal talent inherent on both the Mars and Venus of these marriages.
A few other spoilers… "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus"
features the fab six performing a vocal organ solo worthy of Bobby
McFerrin's best work. "There is a Green Hill Far Away"
has a Ladysmith Black Mambazo kind of background holding up an exquisite
and lyrical single lead voice, eventually drifting into complete
harmony ebbing and flowing like a gentle tide against a welcoming
shore. "Come, O Thou King of Kings" sounds as though the
Beach Boys had a guest appearance at General Conference. "Be
Still, My Soul" has sweet dripping harmony twists at nearly
every turn. The album closes with "Lord, I Would Follow Thee",
which brings to mind a terrific version by another LDS vocal group,
the Hughes Brothers, and though I think I prefer that version for
its dynamics, this one is also quite nice and has some interesting
dynamics and harmonies of its own.
I haven't heard Voice Male's first Hims collection, so I can't compare
Hims II to that as being a 'sequel'. But I can say that on its own,
Hims II is an incredible collection showcasing the immense talent
of the group and their ability to render songs with creativity,
passion and love. And beyond that, it showcases the human voice
itself and its considerable ability to paint beautiful imagery onto
the canvas of the soul.
*****
(five stars out of five)
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Eric
Endres
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