(AP) - The Cake Sale, “The Cake Sale” (Yep Roc)
This shouldn’t work.
The Cake Sale is an Irish-based collective led by Brian Crosby of the band Bell X1, with contributions from Damien Rice and Josh Ritter, as well as members of the Cardigans, Crowded House, Snow Patrol and the Thrills, among others.
The nine songs were written specifically for the project, which benefits Oxfam International’s campaign for fair trade, but in only one case does the composer sing his own tune. The album was assembled in patchwork fashion, with vocals and instrumental overdubs recorded in various countries in deference to the schedules of the many artists involved.
The result should be a sprawling, disjointed mess, but instead the album is a cohesive set of engaging, tuneful pop. The songs are mostly midtempo ballads that create a pensive mood, but eight lead vocalists ensure sufficient variety, and they have plenty of appealing melodies with which to work.
Various artists in various time zones sounds like a bad idea, but “The Cake Sale” sounds great.
CHECK THIS OUT: The Cardigans’ Nina Persson sings the lovely “Black Winged Bird,” and it might be the best thing she has ever done.
