CD: The Ten Tenors - Here's to the Heroes

Imagine for a minute that you are a record executive. Pop opera tenors are big, groups of pop opera tenors are even bigger and you’re looking for the next big thing. All of a sudden your prayers are answered in the form of the Australian pop opera group the Ten Tenors. Of course you’re going to get behind them, after all, ten has got to be better than one, doesn’t it?

The Ten Tenors were formed in 1995 by a group of university students (mostly from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music). Discovering a common passion for both classical and modern music they got together so that they could sing the songs they love. Not limiting themselves to the classics, they tackle numbers as diverse as Stayin’ Alive, Rawhide, Danny Boy, Dancing Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody. Since their formation they have toured extensively, even being surprise guests at the Eurovision Grand Prix de la Chanson, and have released around half a dozen albums and DVDs.

Out in time for Christmas, their new album, Here’s To The Heroes, like it’s predecessor Tenology, shows an obvious shift to bring the group into line with the other pop opera groups/soloists already out there. Big mistake. Looking back over the tracklists of their previous albums and seeing the diverse mix of songs, not to mention their laid back, tongue in cheek stage shows, making them just like everyone else robs them of their special quality.

The Ten Tenors are fun and should remain so. This new album, while decent, lacks real sparkle. Songs like Buongiorno Principessa, the James Bond songs and the title track have all been heard before, the arrangements fail to send shivers up your spine and many times they fail completely to utilise the ten voices, opting instead for simple harmonies. All of these seem to be signs of the fast track to the marketplace and of someone trying to fit a circle into an oval shaped hole, it’s almost there but not quite.

Here’s To The Heroes is a good accompaniment to a quiet afternoon at home. Despite lacking any real zing, hope lies in the fact that it may create new fans who will seek out the group’s earlier work or their live shows (a DVD is also available with this album) that’s where these talented guys really shine.