'Anyone lucky enough to have seen Coco's Lunch live will know this is a CD worth checking out. The acclaimed Melbourne female vocal and hand percussion sextet take their influences from around the world. Thanga, composed by Lisa Young, is inspired by south Indian percussion rhythms, and Ai-ee-yi has traces of African vocal arrangements. Sue Johnson's heartfelt tribute I am your grandmother is as good as anything I have heard by Sweet Honey in the Rock. The result is a fascinating melange of perfect, soulful vocal harmonies and abstract jazzy percussion grooves that accompany the singers rather than dominate. A cappella in Australia continues to flourish.'
'…Since forming in 1998 this extraordinary female sextet have released six albums dedicated to the art of acappella. Their new release, nominated for Best World Music album in the 2007 ARIAs, is another outstanding collection of originals...This album’s accessibility excites, for each complex vocal workout there are stories of romance and enlightenment....' more
'…this album's music crosses the continents
to offer a tantalizing collection of pieces overflowing
with talent… its soul and energy will make you
look at a cappella music in a whole new way...' more
'... energy, dazzling rhythms, and exotic blend of sounds and styles. Keep an eye on these women, check out this disc, and try to catch a show if you find yourself down under.' more
'On CD Coco's Lunch manage to evoke all the instantaneous magic of a live performance whilst displaying an intuitive depth of vocal arrangements and intricacy that can best be enjoyed in the hi fi intimacy of home. However it's the clean and crisp recording of five engaging voices taking turns to harmonise, dip and weave alongside each other, aided and propped by varied and interesting choices of percussion instruments and the occasional addition of flute which truly lifts this recording.' more
'In this age of disposable quick-fix pop, it's easy
to be cynical and forget some musicians can actually
sing and get passionate about what they do. Five-piece
world music act Coco's Lunch fall into that category:
cleverly mixing African drumming with an interesting
range of vocal percussion on this well-crafted album.
The cheeky and playful title track is a highlight,
but it's on some of the more moving melodic tracks
such as Fly Away and Sister my Sister that
the full beauty of these women's voices is appreciated. An interesting and surprising musical
journey. In a word: lush.'
A New Generation of Voice: '...pure celebrations of the heart-stopping beauty of five voices in full flight.' more
'For me, the concert by Coco's Lunch at the First Nations Longhouse at UBC was a distinct highlight of this year's Festival Vancouver. Working with highly creative and diverse arrangements that showed off both the individual and collective talents of the five women, the show was extremely well rehearsed, and the audiences responded immediately in recognition of this sparkling music making! We hope you will come back to Canada soon.'
'The ultimate eargasm', concert goer, Festival Vancouver
'(an) extraordinary atmosphere in the Markgraf-Leopold venue. The five girls from Australia on their first European tour shone in what was a brilliant and explosive and sold-out concert...' more
'…It is a monument to their talent, business savvy, stability of their line-up and creative commitment that, of all the groups to emerge in the early 1990's, Coco's Lunch are still alive and well, living in Melbourne and touring continually around Australia and the world...' more
'…On the menu for 11 years and will continue to provide food for mind, body and soul...' more
'...all five voices sank into the gloriously rich
harmonies, creating a piece that was part lullaby,
part prayer, part celebration of the human voice.' more
'This group of five women is a national treasure. Instinctive
musicality, intuitive ensemble, irrepressible rhythmical
vitality and impeccable intonation are their hallmarks.'
more
Blueprint
A Whole New Way of Getting Dressed
Invisible Rhythm
Rat Trap Snap!
Wally Wombat Shuffle