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JANE SIBERRY
Shushan The Palace (Hymns Of Earth)
(Sheeba-Universal)
As is her way, when this art-pop Toronto artist makes a cover album, it's hardly mainstream.
Thus Siberry tackles centuries-old hymns by Handel, Bach, Mendelssohn and others on this record that began life as a Christmas album but became so much more.
And while this nine-song collection might not be everyone's cup of tea, given Siberry's long-established idiosyncratic nature and early classical and operatic influences, it should come as no surprise.
Accompanied by strings, horns, woodwinds and her own soaring vocal harmonies, the sweet-voiced Siberry is mostly suited for this kind of music, as such beautiful standouts as A Star Shall Rise Up Out Of Jacob, Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming, In The Bleak Midwinter, Jesus Christ The Apple Tree and Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light can attest.
Elsewhere, though, she falls painfully short in both the vocal department and musical arrangements on Sheep May Safely Graze, I Know That My Redeemer Liveth and If God Be For Us.
Siberry -- whose last album was 2001's City featuring collaborations with the likes of Joe Jackson, Nigel Kennedy and Ghostland -- already played a Toronto gig last month at The Church At Berkeley. (More on Jane Siberry)
Track Listing
1. How Beautiful Are The Feet
2. Sheep May Safely Graze
3. A Star Shall Rise Up From Jacob
4. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
5. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
6. In The Bleak Midwinter
7. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
8. Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light
9. If God Be For Us