CD: Il Divo - Siempre

Well it's Christmas and that means it must be time for another Il Divo CD. The popera group (formed by infamous American Idol judge and pop-entrepreneur Simon Cowell) have been consistent in their releases, putting out an album a year since their debut in 2004. Proving there is a God they haven't put out another Christmas CD, instead releasing their third studio album, Siempre.

This one features more of the same stuff that has made the crooners famous. We have new popera songs like Come Primavera, old favourites in translation (the Moody Blues' Nights in White Satin, Secret Garden’s You Raise Me Up, Bryan Adams' Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman and Harry Nilsson’s Without You) and standards such as Somewhere from West Side Story. While this album probably won't win any awards for originality, it is a fantastic listen and easily one of the best popera CDs out there for Christmas.

While Carlos Marín, Urs Bühler, David Miller and Sébastien Izambard all have wonderful voices, the success of this album and the group as a whole is due primarily to the people behind the scenes. Il Divo work with the best pop producers in the world and it shows. While other acts may call upon the talents of producers and songwriters more attune with the classical realm, Il Divo recognise that what they are producing is popular music and as such should be crafted by those who do that for a living. On Siempre the group work with the likes of Steve Mac (Westlife, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Texas, 5ive) David Foster (Barbra Striesand, Celine Dion) and Per Magnusson (Britney Spears, Westlife, Boyzone). It may not be conventional but the result is an album that presses all of the right easy listening buttons and should be another big hit.

If you a looking for a good Christmas gift this year for your mum then you couldn't go far wrong with Siempre.