MICappella Reloaded
MICappella
Local vocal band MICappella want to shake things up with their new album. They kick things off with the one-two punch of One Of These Days and Never Be Defeated, practically daring you not to groove to the rhythm and tight vocal work.
On Never Be Defeated, they are defiant: “Why should I be the same, following the designated direction.” And so they have upended the conventional idea of a cappella groups as cover acts and, inspired by the likes of Pentatonix, come up with an album of original material to follow up on their debut disc, Here We Go (2013).
There is a good mix of material here, mostly in Mandarin with three English tracks and a variety of genres from love ballads to energetic pick-me-ups.
Hunger Games, taking its cue from the popular books and movies, zeroes in on the competitive nature of the world we live in and adds a gothic spin with its vocal arrangement.
On the most choral track, the gospel-tinged Hello Again, six voices harmonise in a touching ballad about living well for the sake of those who have left us.
The lone cover here, of JJ Lin’s gorgeous ballad If Only, is not needed – the original material stands well enough on its own.
(ST)