Pulifunie

Amazon.com

No matter the origins, choral music can connect on the most basic of levels. Perhaps that’s because we all share the instrument of voice; or perhaps it’s the religious traditions that many of us grew up with. The Corsican a capella nonet I Muvrini hit listeners with rich polyphonic melodies and harmonies that gracefully spiral upwards, resonating together in a way that needs little translation. Like a hip church choir from the 16th century with a Middle Eastern influence, the men’s group covers the sacred and the secular on Pulifunie (which translates as polyphony)–the group is at its best on the vocal-only traditionals, but two of the three originals have ambient accompaniment that works pretty well. A far cry from the ominous-sounding Gregorian chant, the music on the group’s second effort for Higher Octave is as weird and wonderful as the first, possessing the same kind of ancient-but-modern beauty as Enya, Sheila Chandra, or Lisa Gerrard.
–Tad Hendrickson