VOICES
Venue: New Town Theatre
Where: Edinburgh
Date Reviewed: 5 August 2011

A capella singing groups have become as synonymous with the Edinburgh Fringe as student review shows and dramatic monologues. And if you're planning on seeing one this year, I can heartily recommend Voices.

Over the years one has come to expect a capella shows to involve a plethora of pop songs re-arranged for a handful of vocalists, one of
whom will beatbox and another of whom will go 'bom bom bom' a lot. This group has a beatboxer, but that's where the comparisons end.

You won't hear �Stand by Me� or �Walking in Memphis� here, and if you're looking for that sort of thing you should probably see The Magnets. Rather, what Voices serves up is a range of world music, seemingly spanning at least five continents, performed by an equally diverse group of performers.

Led by American vocalist and composer Philip Hamilton, we hear mash-ups of everything from African gospel to Balinese monkey-chant, as well as virtuoso turns from a superb beatboxer and a giant, booming bassist, among others.

If I have a criticism it's the lack of context given to the music, especially as many of the pieces undoubtedly have fascinating stories behind them. But nevertheless it's a very pleasant way to wile away an hour or so, and certainly makes a change from the usual a capella fare.
- by Theo Bosanquet