Ben Crawley feeds the tender subject matter with maturity, rendering a sorrowful yet sweet sonority that emulates the form of a freed soul. He handles every note with care and polishes each word before releasing it, often taking time to paint a subtle image for us to observe its direction or intention.

An entrancing feature is made of the harp which journeys on tiptoe, treading in the dewdrops of angel's tears, caressing the solo line with sensitive fingers.

Ben and Joseph Platt create a union so bold that the original sound appears to divide, as though the voices are the budding ends of a forked branch caught on the same breeze, or a beam of light that suddenly bisects and the result is more radiant than ever before. When these two boys sing together, a magical transformation occurs.

The final notes are the most powerful of all where Ben’s plea for earthly acceptance and happiness dies away in a glint of hope.

(For RHP)

Copyright © 2004 Merewyn Bramble, Benj Schatzmann, Stewart Simpson