The Chronicle Review Corner

When I started reviewing classical music I never thought I’d get to love blokes singing in the drawing room but so it is, and following the recent, excellent “Dreams Desires Desolations” this was most welcome.

Similarly named to highlight its content “Gods, Ghosts and Monsters” from Conceptus, a Germany-based ensemble, features music for tenor and ensemble by Butterworth, Warlock, Holst and Bridge, in addition to Timothy Collins’ “Sea Song”.

This collection, like “DDD” also features “Six songs from a Shropshire Lad” by George Butterworth, based on AE Housman’s work; Mr H would be chuffed. Only one of the six is repeated.

“Sea song” opens and despite being composed in 2018 (set to the poetry of Katherine Mansfield), its mournful air could be several hundred years old as it delves into themes of ageing, sorrow, and loss.

“Six songs from a Shropshire Lad” follows, opening with “Loveliest of trees”, followed by “When I was one and twenty”. The selection closes with “Is my team ploughing?”, as heard on

“Dreams Desires Desolations” “The curlew” by Peter Warlock follows, based on the poetry of William Butler Yeats, and looks at more “macabre imagery and desolate landscapes” say the release notes. Songs by Frank Bridge close things.

“Hymns from the Rig Veda” by Gustav Holst sits in the middle, more a piece for music with some singing than a song, and is mostly slow and mournful (“she has gone weeping away” is one line) and best listened to quietly.

Slightly bleak, but an enjoyable album.

—Jeremy Condliffe