Siempre * http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Music/Siempre-Il-Divo/0886970155229?cf=3

Artist: Il Divo

$11.90 Add to Cart Condition: As New

Ships within: 2-5 days

New or Used: 2 copies from $7.17

• Personnel: Mats Berntoft (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Paul Gendler (guitar); David Wickstr”m (acoustic guitar, percussion, programming); Henrik Janson (acoustic guitar); John Miles, Dave Arch (piano); Steve Mac (keyboards, synthesizer); David Krueger (keyboards, percussion, programming); Per Magnusson (keyboards, programming); Chris Laws (drums); Chippe Karlosson, Gustave Lund (percussion, programming).
  
• Audio Mixers: Fredrik Andersson ; Ren Swan.
  
• Recording information: A Side Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Air Studios, London, England; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Rokstone Studios, London, England; Sphere Studios, London, England; Sveriges Radio Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Whitfield Street Studios, London, England; Windmill Lane Recording Studio, Dublin, Ireland.
  
• Photographer: Michel Comte.
  
• Arrangers: David Krueger; John Miles; Per Magnusson; Steve Mac.
  
• Continuing their string of overtly sentimental albums, the multinational Il Divo released their fourth (including The Christmas Collection) full-length, Siempre, which contains more of the same Latinized versions of pop songs, as well as some originals (written by their producers). All four Divos sound professional and emotional, especially Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, who seems on the verge of tears every time he opens his mouth. The arrangements for the songs (including West Side Story's "Somewhere" -- the only one that's in English -- and the Italian version of the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin," among others) are always very clean, with soft acoustic guitars and pianos backed by subtle yet swelling strings, adding to the romanticized idea and portrayal of the group. To be fair, all four are very talented vocalists, and they manage to make Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" sound even more profound and sensitive when they sing it in Spanish, and their phrasing on both "Without You" (originally made famous by Harry Nilsson) and Lucio Dalla's "Caruso" (with some of the lyrics cut out, despite the fact they're all listed in the album booklet) is excellent, drawn out to pull as much emotion as possible from each of the songs. Siempre is exactly what you would expect from Il Divo, so if you want more of what they've already given, it should be a satisfying record. [This edition of Siempre includes a bonus track.] ~ Marisa Brown