Looking for music that sounds like what I used to like in church music

May 27, 2013 10:00 AM

One of the things I miss about church is small-group music. I'd like to find music in this style without the baggage of church behind it. Specific criteria and examples of what I'm looking for inside.

Criteria:
* Emphasis on vocal harmony--at least two voices. It works better with small groups though--once you have a full choir the words become difficult to understand.
* It doesn't necessary have to be a cappella, but the voices should be central
* Serious themes, although not religious themes. I'm not looking for "barbershop quartet" music here.

Examples of what I mean:
Shanghai Restoration Project: Last Morning
The Voice Squad: The Parting Glass
The King's Singers: Skye Boat Song

Religious music in the style I'm looking for:
Voices of Praise: My Faith Looks Up To Thee
Soundforth Singers and Orchestra: Almighty Father
SMS Men's Chorus: Arise, My Soul, Arise

posted by JDHarper to Media & Arts (16 answers total)

The Copper family are the inspiration for the Voice Squad, so you should definitely check out their stuff. There are a number of performers in that style, known as close harmony singing.
posted by LN at 10:13 AM on May 27, 2013

Have you listened to anything by Sweet Honey in the Rock? Multiple voices, killer harmonies, usually accapella, understandable lyrics...

Some songs to look for that I love:
Silvie
Ain't gonna let no body turn me around
Redemption Song
Breaths
Study War No More
We'll understand it better by and by
On Children
I be your water
Wanting Memories
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:19 AM on May 27, 2013 [3 favorites]

Some 15 years after their amazing breakthrough "The Roches," The Roches came up with "A Dove," one of the most amazing vocal pop albums I've ever heard. I find it hard to believe/accept that more time separates "A Dove" from now, than separated the two CD's. For long-lasting vocal pleasure, you can't beat either CD.
posted by Infinity_8 at 10:26 AM on May 27, 2013 [3 favorites]

One additional point on Sweet Honey in the Rock: Some of their songs ARE religious, but a lot are just about empowerment and freedom and equality etc. I find them incredibly inspiring and moving.


Seconding The Roaches. Hammond Song and Losing True are incredible.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:40 AM on May 27, 2013

Rajaton, a Finnish vocal group. They do everything from ABBA to Finnish poetry set to music to sacred music. Their album Sanat is at the sacred end of the spectrum.
posted by seabound_coast at 10:48 AM on May 27, 2013

I feel like you'd probably enjoy some of the earlier releases from The Rankin Family. They get increasingly kitchen-party-like in their later stuff (this is not a bad thing, it's just a stylistic move away from what you seem to like).
posted by jacquilynne at 10:58 AM on May 27, 2013 [2 favorites]

Check out Anonymous 4's albums American Angels and Gloryland. Early american folk and gospel songs.
posted by sarahnade at 11:13 AM on May 27, 2013

I have no idea of your politics, so this may be very much not up your street, but there are socialist choirs who fit your criteria very well. The Sheffield Socialist Choir have lovely vocal harmony and serious themes - their version of the Internationale. Their website.
posted by Coobeastie at 11:29 AM on May 27, 2013 [1 favorite]

A lot of trad folk would fit your bill, I think. Swan Arcade are pretty good on the a capella harmonies -- Lowlands Away, for instance.

And since Coobeastie brought it up already, seconding socialist songs if the politics don't put you off.

Also, nautical songs. Stan Rogers sings Old Maui; Johnny Collins sings Leave Her Johnny.
posted by pont at 11:47 AM on May 27, 2013

In the same general neighborhood as The Voice Squad, with a bit more eclectic mix of materials, is Finest Kind out of Ottawa. For something a little less "pretty", you could try The Watersons and their offshoots (lately Waterson/Carthy).
posted by mr vino at 12:25 PM on May 27, 2013

A band you might want to look into: Fleet Foxes. They use a lot of vocal harmony in their music. Check out White Winter Hymnal or Mykonos.
posted by capricorn at 12:28 PM on May 27, 2013 [1 favorite]

In the realm of church music that is beautiful, vocally splendid, and perhaps not quite as fraught as others, find a good recording of Britten's "Rejoice In The Lamb." The finale "For The Instruments are By Their Rhymes" is transcendent whatever your religious views, I would think. This isn't my favorite (not even my favorite on Youtube, but I can't always find that one) but I still listen to it every now and then :) (The best recording I've heard, and misplaced :( has boy choir voices for the treble bits. Sopranos are nice but this needs boys.)
posted by Infinity_8 at 12:28 PM on May 27, 2013

I like The King's Singers. A mostly a capella sextet. They do a lot of traditional English madrigal type stuff, some sacred music, and the Beatles, etc.
posted by CathyG at 12:42 PM on May 27, 2013 [2 favorites]

You might like some of Riccardo Tesi's music - here is Cos'e Uno for example. More.
posted by rongorongo at 1:35 PM on May 27, 2013

This is way not religious, but there's an indie group called The Choir Practice which is basically the indiepop version of what you're looking for. Only released one album on Mint Records, easily findable on Amazon.
posted by softlord at 2:44 PM on May 27, 2013

Choir! Choir! Choir! - although it might be too large a group?
posted by monkeys with typewriters at 7:46 PM on May 27, 2013