‘Pelican in the Wilderness’ is Howard Goodall’s third disc recorded with Enchanted Voices, a hand-picked female-voice choir par excellence. (The earlier two were ‘Howard Goodall’s Enchanted Voices’ and ‘Howard Goodall’s Enchanted Carols’).
High in the classical charts for many months following its release on the Classic FM/UCJ label on 10 May, 'Pelican in the Wilderness' is a collection of 13 settings of the Psalms, with accompaniment from the Tippett Quartet, and Daisy Fancourt on organ/keyboard. The recording’s healing powers have been much publicised – the CD was reported in the UK national press to be the music of choice for both David Cameron and Nick Clegg, as they hatched out the final terms of the new coalition Government!
‘Goodall’s melodic gift is well to the fore throughout the disc… This is superior, diatonic, ultra-legato easy listening, albeit heartfelt and honest, though there are times when Goodall almost out-Rutters his senior composing colleague, in terms of sweetness. The instrumental accompaniments are beautifully and luxuriously played.’
Gramophone (Malcolm Riley), July 2010