Label Reviews
Read what the critics say about our releases
17th November 2023
"The performances here are touchingly engaging"
16th November 2023
“The performances are clear and precise throughout, and the recorded sound is atmospherically warm and resonant, resulting in an engaging and effective evocation of the mysterious world of the night"
16th November 2023
“A valuable disc that allows listeners to enjoy and appreciate the effective and attractive music of Armstrong Gibbs”
8th November 2023
"A 12-minute musical treasure that highlights the collaborative brilliance of soprano Amy Carson and pianist Nicola Rose, bringing Anthony Cæsar’s, until now unrecorded, song cycle to life"
14th October 2023
“There is no doubting the purity of twelve-year-old treble Luca Brugnoli’s voice”
14th October 2023
“Philip Moore’s musical reflections... beautifully capture the emotion and drama of these 15 readings”
14th October 2023
“Fine, committed performances throughout, with impeccable pitch, blend and diction"
9th October 2023
“If you want the Coleridge Requiem presented to its best advantage, this would be the place to come"
26th September 2023
“Wonderful sacred music, beautifully performed by one of England’s leading choirs”
7th September 2023
“Excellent recording of music written for trumpet and organ”
4th September 2023
“A pure tone and his diction is good”
8th August 2023
“The tone and intonation are beyond reproach”
22nd July 2023
“Artfully crafted, brimming with melody, and beautifully performed” ★★★★
3rd July 2023
“The disc is full of strong performances from the choir, soloists and instrumentalists"
23rd June 2023
“An appealing, colorful piece worth hearing”
19th June 2023
“The standard of performance and recording is stunning” ★★★★
7th June 2023
“Matthew Coleridge has a natural gift for memorably melodic vocal lines and warm harmonies"
31st May 2023
“Philip Moore’s music is varied in texture, tempo, character, registration and dynamics”
25th May 2023
“Rupert Gough achieves a wonderful blend and sense of atmosphere throughout"
17th May 2023
“This is an impressive recording in many ways”
17th May 2023
“Matthew Coleridge’s beautiful Requiem receives lyrical advocacy from the Choir of Royal Holloway"
17th May 2023
“Philip Moore’s processional work is a wholesome and glorious concept”
9th May 2023
“The recording quality is superb, and the disc comes highly recommended”
2nd May 2023
“A strong debut disc from Archontidi-Tsaldaraki, encouraging more exploration of Constantinidis and Kalomiris”
17th April 2023
“An hour-long journey which ought to interest anyone looking for Holy Week inspiration” ★★★★★
1st April 2023
“Rupert Gough sculpts glowing vocal harmonies to emphasise the work's stress on light rather than darkness” ★★★★
31st March 2023
“The Fairhaven Singers give strong performances here”
31st March 2023
“The dynamic range and vocal blend of this ensemble is impressive”
30th March 2023
“Jamie W. Hall expresses all these feelings touchingly, singing from the heart”
22nd March 2023
“A recording to cherish” ★★★★★
15th March 2023
“The music is immaculately constructed and consistently attractive”
12th March 2023
“All devote themselves to the service of this beautiful music” ★★★★★
1st February 2023
"Keziah Thomas's arrangement and performance are stunning"
5th December 2022
"It is refreshing to listen to [a Christmas album] which combines excellent musicianship with variation of compositional styles"
4th December 2022
"Gray's command of the range required here is impressive"
1st December 2022
"The performances here cannot be faulted"
25th November 2022
"This is a lovely album to hear"
4th November 2022
"These are very high quality performances of fine music"
1st November 2022
"The interpreter's phrasing is always measured and elegant" ★★★★★
28th October 2022
"The London Trio (and friends) deliver a compelling program."
17th October 2022
"A fine disc of capable music, superbly sung and beautifully recorded"
13th October 2022
"...containing moments of rare beauty..."
12th October 2022
"The Fantaisie is a complex work that gets a superb performance here" ★★★★
8th October 2022
"In its themes and circumstances the music is very personal" ★★★
1st October 2022
"Nones refuses, rightly in my view, to ride any vaporous cloud with being affected by romantic wretching for its own sake" ★★★★★
26th September 2022
“The pieces are exemplary in construction”
20th September 2022
"Nones succeeds in allowing the complex music to become rhetorical in a very natural way" ★★★★
15th September 2022
"Slower movements have a magical, shimmering quality"
10th September 2022
"Good humor and modest inventiveness are always in evidence"
30th August 2022
“The music here is entirely approachable” ★★★★
20th August 2022
"Nones executes Chopin’s intentions with clear respect, yet with feeling, subtlety"
13th August 2022
"Keziah Thomas's harp transcription is beautifully played"
5th August 2022
“An impressive display of virtuosic talent”
1st August 2022
“Nones’ refreshingly unfussy playing, reveals fresh insights into familiar works”
20th July 2022
“Accessible, deeply felt, and notably un-slushy”
15th July 2022
"Nones has remarkable care of the sound, of the phrasing, with meticulous respect for the score."
12th July 2022
“The sound is unfailingly full and satisfying”
5th July 2022
“Brilliant facility in lightning passagework” ★★★★★
29th June 2022
“This particular rendition offers more than most”
18th June 2022
“Korros’s blend of sound and ensemble on this disc is superb”
7th June 2022
“An accessible and brilliant arrangement of Vivaldi’s iconic Seasons” ★★★★★
2nd June 2022
“Highly recommended in terms of musical content and performance”
1st June 2022
“Hall proves to be a sterling Lieder soloist” ★★★★★
26th May 2022
“A truly satisfying recital played by the best of friends”
20th May 2022
“This excellent recording is one of the best I have reviewed for some time”
14th May 2022
“Dan Locklair’s is a highly personal Requiem, dedicated to his parents and clearly evolved over many years” ★★★★
7th May 2022
“Dr. Locklair’s Requiem takes its place comfortably among the known Requiems”
19th April 2022
“Performances of Cooman’s and Rosner’s music here are good, if not outstanding”
13th April 2022
“I can only commend this ensemble to any composer anxious to expand their creative imagination” ★★★★★
14th March 2022
“This is a subtly organised and surprising diverse programme and I enjoyed every minute”
25th February 2022
“Showcases a unique gift for writing chant lines that can have pace, direction, and texture, without losing the essence of plainchant”
22nd January 2022
“Carefully planned, [Briginshaw’s album] chronologically charts a stimulating path through Warlock’s song-writing career” ★★★★
22nd January 2022
“Hall captures this range of emotions well, and tells the tragic tale with remarkable clarity”
20th January 2022
“Convivium wrap the Korros Ensemble up in warm, resonant sound that allows the harp in particular to glitter against a generous acoustic”
13th January 2022
“An impressive showcase of Pavlea’s compositional skills... her motif writing in particular shines through”
10th January 2022
“All in all, an impressive display, showcasing another side to Warlock, as well as this talented duo”
21st December 2021
“The performances are impressive with clear, crisp diction”
16th November 2021
“A disc to make us re-consider: Peter Warlock Songbook from Luci Briginshaw and Eleanor Meynell” ★★★★
5th November 2021
“The entrancing quality of Briginshaw’s voice, combined with Meynell’s mesmerising playing makes for a beautiful ensemble timbre that feels truly meaningful as well as utterly transfixing”
25th October 2021
“Generous tone and near-perfect vocal blend” ★★★★
25th October 2021
“The choir bring all their generous tone and near-perfect vocal blend to this attractive score” ★★★★
5th October 2021
“Enjoyable and honest performance, with excellent sleeve notes by David Owen Norris” ★★★
20th August 2021
“Archer brings delicacy, precision and lightness of touch”
13th July 2021
“Played with confidence and wit; the engineering is first-rate; and the program notes are refreshingly full”
11th July 2021
“Tonal but absolutely breathtaking in its complexity”
10th July 2021
“Archer seeks to find his own tempos for each variations… allowing for each variation to be distinguishable”
29th June 2021
“Well sung and sensitively accompanied”
21st June 2021
“The performances stand up well and the recording quality is equally laudable”
30th May 2021
“Very thoughtful, deliberate, and expressive form of musical writing”
18th May 2021
“Well-chosen popular songs; perfect tuning throughout” ★★★★★
12th May 2021
“Perfect listening for lifting one’s spirits”
10th May 2021
“Hugh Benham speaks with Malcolm Archer”
10th May 2021
“Both singers negotiate technical challenges very well”
30th April 2021
“Different musical personalities”
29th April 2021
“This is music that benefits from what you’re willing to bring to it”
29th April 2021
“A treasure trove of “new to us” sacred choral music”
27th April 2021
“The passionate performance, directed by Dan Ludford-Thomas, catches the essence of the story” ★★★★
19th April 2021
“Technically flawless and charmingly original”
17th February 2021
“An amusing juxtaposition of inspirations, and it keeps the music interesting”
17th February 2021
An interview by Carson Cooman (Fanfare) with the composer John Carbon and pianist, Steven Graff.
11th February 2021
“Impeccably phrased, with superb intonation and ensemble, directed with assurance by Hilary Campbell” ★★★★★
30th January 2021
“A beautifully relaxing album to listen to”
24th January 2021
“Drawing the listener in a timeless manner to the gate of heaven”
21st January 2021
“Great clarity of tone and precision as well as rich energy from Blossom Street & Hilary Campbell”
22nd December 2020
“Highly impressive collection from two clearly talented young singers”
8th December 2020
“The first word I wrote when listening to this album of a cappella American music was ‘perfection’”
8th December 2020
“Helping the listener spiritually enter into another realm” ★★★
1st December 2020
“A rewarding disc of ‘contemplative’ music, skilfully written and with many moments of radiant beauty”
20th November 2020
“A glorious blaze of sound-colour” ★★★★
20th November 2020
“Forthright and committed performances of the music” ★★★★
12th November 2020
“A great discovery – and always a good sign when a recording of a ‘new’ composer makes me want to seek out more of their music” ★★★★
30th October 2020
“Tsaldarakis and Archontides have clearly developed a strong affinity for this music… a very enjoyable discovery”
29th October 2020
“National Children’s Choir of Great Britain sing with real fervour and wonderful ensemble throughout” ★★★★
10th October 2020
“Appleyard’s sensitive and expressive singing is ideal for the repertoire, imparting an entirely appropriate air of gentle innocence to the melodic lines”
15th September 2020
“Humor leavened by heart and sophistication”
15th September 2020
“An excellent example of research-led musicianship, bringing to light a little-known backwater of English music of the Restoration period”
10th September 2020
“My high expectations were met without delay” ★★★★★
9th September 2020
“A powerful reminder of the power of music to involve young people and communicate strong messages”
1st September 2020
“Sends a message of hope sung tenderly, child to child, by this wonderful choir”
31st August 2020
“A proficient composer with a gift for setting familiar words in ways that shed new light on the texts”
24th July 2020
“Willow Consort tackles everything with relaxed authority” ★★★
14th July 2020
An interview by Carson Cooman (Fanfare) with the composer Clive Osgood.
29th June 2020
“Hilary Campbell delivers these two highly personal Masses with brisk confidence” ★★★★
14th June 2020
“A moving cantata that tells a remarkable story” ★★★★
11th June 2020
“A valuable addition to the catalogue and a fitting and vital tribute to Henry Aldrich”
5th May 2020
“Sung throughout with genuine feeling and emotion”
29th April 2020
“This music is absolutely exquisite”
29th April 2020
“Technically perfect” ★★★★★
28th April 2020
“Attractive and lovingly performed music” ★★★★★
14th April 2020
“The many technical challenges have been triumphantly surmounted by Hilary Campbell and Blossom Street in assured and committed performances”
10th April 2020
“All the works on the disc deserve to be discovered” ★★★★
2nd April 2020
“This is all attractive, useful music and deserves wider currency with church choirs”
29th March 2020
“Never less than fascinating music”
22nd March 2020
“Benham has a gift of melody and the happy ability to fit words and tunes together” ★★★★
11th March 2020
“An excellent introduction to the choral music of this gifted composer”
7th March 2020
“Beautiful renditions of devotional American choral music” ★★★★★
10th January 2020
“Always full of beauty” ★★★★★
6th January 2020
“Immediately attractive, low-key, contemplative, and moving” ★★★★★
26th December 2019
“the singing of Excelsis, a fine group of young musicians, is beyond reproach”
13th December 2019
“Attractive, approachable music”
10th December 2019
“Nonsuch Singers get into the groove very convincingly” ★★★★
10th December 2019
“Beautifully produced showcase recording” ★★★
13th November 2019
Launching a record label at the start of what has proved an economically unstable decade was a risk – but Convivium Records has weathered the storms. Founder and managing director Adrian Green talks to Helen Cocks (Choir & Organ)
2nd November 2019
“Performances are first rate”
22nd September 2019
“If the thought of contemporary choral music makes you uneasy rest assured that this disc is most approachable and all the music is played and sung very well indeed” 9/10
24th June 2019
“an evening of impressive performances from all, but special congratulations must go to Nonsuch Singers and Bullard for achieving the rare feat of pulling off the transition into the world of jazz and swing with such skill"
22nd May 2019
“Attractively melodic music from a young contemporary composer, in engaging performances” ★★★
9th March 2019
SANSARA “The early years of a remarkable choir” (Cathedral Music Magazine)
6th December 2018
“For when you want to escape the hustle and bustle”
1st December 2018
“Committed and convincing performances throughout”
29th November 2018
Nick Boston from Classical Notes speaks with the director of Lumen Chamber Choir, Benjamin Thiele-Long.
9th August 2018
“A big and stable sound that never becomes strident”
1st August 2018
“Enthusiastically received by an international audience”
20th April 2018
“The music itself is well worth hearing” 7/10
1st February 2018
“Sung throughout with genuine feeling and emotion”
26th January 2018
Steven Whitehead speaks with Malcolm Archer on Winchester College Chapel Choir and their recording of Mozart’s Requiem.
16th November 2017
“As a journey back in time this is fascinating” 7/10
3rd November 2017
“Lovingly prepared and presented”
22nd October 2017
“A unique group of young singers who perform to the highest standards”
3rd October 2017
“Appealing, lively and fresh, coping with the technical demands admirably” ★★★★
19th September 2017
“Engaging and colourful version of Handel’s sacred chamber music” ★★★★★
10th August 2017
“Words alone cannot begin to describe the emotional and dramatic content of this outstanding programme”
9th August 2017
Tony Cummings from Cross Rhythms speaks with the opera singer turned bestselling composer of choral music Margaret Rizza
21st July 2017
“Here is something new, American choral music recorded by English choirs”
14th July 2017
“An intriguing and most rewarding disc” ★★★★★
10th June 2017
“Cesari embraces the virtuosic”
15th May 2017
“Thomson’s performances are exemplary”
15th May 2017
“Her music has a pleasing melodic facility which makes for attractive listening”
1st May 2017
“SANSARA slips easily into the elite ranks of exceptional performers” ★★★★★
15th April 2017
“Excellent committed performances”
4th March 2017
Robert Hugill speaks with Adrian Green about Convivium Records
4th March 2017
“Features the kind of music one might enjoy but not be able to articulate why”
5th February 2017
“A very worthwhile collection of a cappella choral writing”
13th January 2017
“A charming snapshot of a voice at its best”
15th December 2016
“It is rare that one hears such a gratifying combination of new music, new organ and young player” ★★★★★
16th November 2016
“Deserves wider international recognition” ★★★
4th November 2016
“Nonsuch singers produce a consistently clean, bright sound and a pleasing blend that suits Jackson’s work” ★★★★
9th September 2016
“Finely crafted and highly effective” ★★★
30th August 2016
“A personal and expressive response to the texts, being set with care, vision and with faith”
16th June 2016
“Distinguished debut disc”
1st May 2016
“this disc would make a nice gift for someone who enjoys listening to classical music”
5th February 2016
“Large scale, multi-textual multi-layered Magnificat which dazzles with its seductive textures” ★★★★
15th January 2016
“A most promising new work…” ★★★★
13th January 2016
“Beautiful, excellent and sometimes frightening”
15th December 2015
“A magical development of a solo melody instrument”
25th November 2015
“Appealing, lively and fresh, coping with the technical demands admirably” ★★★★
15th August 2015
“A seriously impressive disc”
21st July 2015
“Worthy of further investigation” ★★★★
12th July 2015
“Musicians from different traditions bring a new twist to 20th century and contemporary Spanish music” ★★★★
22nd May 2015
“Chamber music with Spanish roots"
21st May 2015
“Highly professional”
1st May 2015
“The main piece here is a surprise” ★★★★
5th April 2015
“Some CDs are hard to review but easy to summarize, and this is one of them. It’s a lot of fun!”
15th March 2015
“Cooman’s sense of the drama of the texts is palpable in the music”
12th March 2015
“Sospiri delivered it with exquisite simplicity and unforced grace” ★★★★
1st March 2015
“The music is beautifully sung”
18th February 2015
“Accomplished and well Recorded”
23rd January 2015
“Finely shaped, flexible and beautifully focussed performances” ★★★★
22nd January 2015
“Fine, sympathetic performances” ★★★★
14th December 2014
“Thoughtful and imaginative disc, reflecting Portsmouth Cathedral’s use of plainchant within their liturgy” ★★★★
1st December 2014
“Genuinely impressive”, “Essential listening” ★★★
12th November 2014
"James Bowman speaks about the making of his album” (Cathedral Music Magazine)
1st November 2014
“Singing of the most beautiful quality, admirably controlled”
1st October 2014
“Winchester College Chapel Choir stand comparison with any cathedral choir”
30th September 2014
“Listeners who are ready to extend their horizons will get much from this pleasant collection” 9/10
10th September 2014
“Sung with fine control”
1st July 2014
“A satisfyingly intense and distinctive instrumental project”
16th May 2014
“Warm, melodic, soothing, and concordant”
2nd March 2014
“Intricacies are presented with utmost clarity”
20th February 2014
“Musical structures that unashamedly require you ally your ears with an analytical brain”
2nd January 2014
“An expression of Margaret Rizza’s own faith” ★★★
20th September 2013
“A chant starts in the head and begins the longest journey in the world”
18th September 2013
“Archer writes exceedingly good tunes”
21st July 2013
“His instinct for text is evident…” ★★★
10th July 2013
“Convivium Singers are in excellent voice: the sound is clean and fresh”
1st May 2013
“The choral sound is young, vibrant and energetic”
14th May 2012
“I expect this disc to join me on my desert island”
20th March 2012
“There is much to admire in the enthusiasm of this ensemble” ★★★
15th December 2011
“A sheer joy to behold”
10th December 2011
“Powell makes a persuasive case for his music’s occasional revival” ★★★★
2nd November 2011
“An attractive introduction to the composer”
25th October 2011
“My discovery and disc of the year by far” ★★★★★
John White: Piano Sonatas Vol I (Adventures At The Keyboard) – Review by International Record Review
15th June 2011
“This ear-opening set ought to be a mandatory purchase”
17th November 2023
"The performances here are touchingly engaging"
16th November 2023
“The performances are clear and precise throughout, and the recorded sound is atmospherically warm and resonant, resulting in an engaging and effective evocation of the mysterious world of the night"
16th November 2023
“A valuable disc that allows listeners to enjoy and appreciate the effective and attractive music of Armstrong Gibbs”
8th November 2023
"A 12-minute musical treasure that highlights the collaborative brilliance of soprano Amy Carson and pianist Nicola Rose, bringing Anthony Cæsar’s, until now unrecorded, song cycle to life"
14th October 2023
“There is no doubting the purity of twelve-year-old treble Luca Brugnoli’s voice”
14th October 2023
“Philip Moore’s musical reflections... beautifully capture the emotion and drama of these 15 readings”
14th October 2023
“Fine, committed performances throughout, with impeccable pitch, blend and diction"
9th October 2023
“If you want the Coleridge Requiem presented to its best advantage, this would be the place to come"
26th September 2023
“Wonderful sacred music, beautifully performed by one of England’s leading choirs”
7th September 2023
“Excellent recording of music written for trumpet and organ”
4th September 2023
“A pure tone and his diction is good”
8th August 2023
“The tone and intonation are beyond reproach”
22nd July 2023
“Artfully crafted, brimming with melody, and beautifully performed” ★★★★
3rd July 2023
“The disc is full of strong performances from the choir, soloists and instrumentalists"
23rd June 2023
“An appealing, colorful piece worth hearing”
19th June 2023
“The standard of performance and recording is stunning” ★★★★
7th June 2023
“Matthew Coleridge has a natural gift for memorably melodic vocal lines and warm harmonies"
31st May 2023
“Philip Moore’s music is varied in texture, tempo, character, registration and dynamics”
25th May 2023
“Rupert Gough achieves a wonderful blend and sense of atmosphere throughout"
17th May 2023
“This is an impressive recording in many ways”
17th May 2023
“Matthew Coleridge’s beautiful Requiem receives lyrical advocacy from the Choir of Royal Holloway"
17th May 2023
“Philip Moore’s processional work is a wholesome and glorious concept”
9th May 2023
“The recording quality is superb, and the disc comes highly recommended”
2nd May 2023
“A strong debut disc from Archontidi-Tsaldaraki, encouraging more exploration of Constantinidis and Kalomiris”
17th April 2023
“An hour-long journey which ought to interest anyone looking for Holy Week inspiration” ★★★★★
1st April 2023
“Rupert Gough sculpts glowing vocal harmonies to emphasise the work's stress on light rather than darkness” ★★★★
31st March 2023
“The Fairhaven Singers give strong performances here”
31st March 2023
“The dynamic range and vocal blend of this ensemble is impressive”
30th March 2023
“Jamie W. Hall expresses all these feelings touchingly, singing from the heart”
22nd March 2023
“A recording to cherish” ★★★★★
15th March 2023
“The music is immaculately constructed and consistently attractive”
12th March 2023
“All devote themselves to the service of this beautiful music” ★★★★★
1st February 2023
"Keziah Thomas's arrangement and performance are stunning"
5th December 2022
"It is refreshing to listen to [a Christmas album] which combines excellent musicianship with variation of compositional styles"
4th December 2022
"Gray's command of the range required here is impressive"
1st December 2022
"The performances here cannot be faulted"
25th November 2022
"This is a lovely album to hear"
4th November 2022
"These are very high quality performances of fine music"
1st November 2022
"The interpreter's phrasing is always measured and elegant" ★★★★★
28th October 2022
"The London Trio (and friends) deliver a compelling program."
17th October 2022
"A fine disc of capable music, superbly sung and beautifully recorded"
13th October 2022
"...containing moments of rare beauty..."
12th October 2022
"The Fantaisie is a complex work that gets a superb performance here" ★★★★
8th October 2022
"In its themes and circumstances the music is very personal" ★★★
1st October 2022
"Nones refuses, rightly in my view, to ride any vaporous cloud with being affected by romantic wretching for its own sake" ★★★★★
26th September 2022
“The pieces are exemplary in construction”
20th September 2022
"Nones succeeds in allowing the complex music to become rhetorical in a very natural way" ★★★★
15th September 2022
"Slower movements have a magical, shimmering quality"
10th September 2022
"Good humor and modest inventiveness are always in evidence"
30th August 2022
“The music here is entirely approachable” ★★★★
20th August 2022
"Nones executes Chopin’s intentions with clear respect, yet with feeling, subtlety"
13th August 2022
"Keziah Thomas's harp transcription is beautifully played"
5th August 2022
“An impressive display of virtuosic talent”
1st August 2022
“Nones’ refreshingly unfussy playing, reveals fresh insights into familiar works”
20th July 2022
“Accessible, deeply felt, and notably un-slushy”
15th July 2022
"Nones has remarkable care of the sound, of the phrasing, with meticulous respect for the score."
12th July 2022
“The sound is unfailingly full and satisfying”
5th July 2022
“Brilliant facility in lightning passagework” ★★★★★
29th June 2022
“This particular rendition offers more than most”
18th June 2022
“Korros’s blend of sound and ensemble on this disc is superb”
7th June 2022
“An accessible and brilliant arrangement of Vivaldi’s iconic Seasons” ★★★★★
2nd June 2022
“Highly recommended in terms of musical content and performance”
1st June 2022
“Hall proves to be a sterling Lieder soloist” ★★★★★
26th May 2022
“A truly satisfying recital played by the best of friends”
20th May 2022
“This excellent recording is one of the best I have reviewed for some time”
14th May 2022
“Dan Locklair’s is a highly personal Requiem, dedicated to his parents and clearly evolved over many years” ★★★★
7th May 2022
“Dr. Locklair’s Requiem takes its place comfortably among the known Requiems”
19th April 2022
“Performances of Cooman’s and Rosner’s music here are good, if not outstanding”
13th April 2022
“I can only commend this ensemble to any composer anxious to expand their creative imagination” ★★★★★
14th March 2022
“This is a subtly organised and surprising diverse programme and I enjoyed every minute”
25th February 2022
“Showcases a unique gift for writing chant lines that can have pace, direction, and texture, without losing the essence of plainchant”
22nd January 2022
“Carefully planned, [Briginshaw’s album] chronologically charts a stimulating path through Warlock’s song-writing career” ★★★★