Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Lyyra is a new women's vocal sextet with three sopranos, two mezzos and an alto working with the backing of the VOCES8 Foundation and while based in the USA 'Rising', their debut, was recorded in London at St Jude-on-the-Hill and The VOCES8 Centre and the audio quality is first-rate. The programme is not bound by genre or style and the pieces selected revolve round timeless questions of love and identity. We travel back to the Middle Ages with Hildegard von Bingen's "Caritas Abundat" and the 19th century for "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" but the majority of the content is contemporary. Including Hildegard makes us think of the much-missed Anonymous 4 but, on this hearing, Lyyra can stand the comparison. Of course, any a cappella sextet also brings to mind the King's Singers and with the technical facility on show along with the range of material selected the comparison is also valid. On 'Rising' we meet some old friends - a wonderful arrangement of "A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square" by Gene Puerling will interest other choirs and the closing Blake Morgan arrangement of Paul Simon's "America" is another earworm. There is little that is explicitly Christian in the programme which is an observation not a criticism but anyone who has any interest in contemporary choral singing will find much to enjoy here. The six voices blend well, the production is clear and bright, the material is interesting and Lyyra are going to be an ensemble to watch in the future.

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