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Our Review

Fabulous! David DeMordaunt's rock fusion "The Third Noel" is a magnificent mélange of modern approaches to well-known holiday numbers. This is a largely instrumental CD, and the show is almost entirely DeMordaunt's (he arranged, engineered, performed, and recorded the she-bang, with a little help from some friends). The artist is equally at home with acoustic guitar and electronic synthesizers; he does it all. Although the liner notes are bare-bones, the artist's website provides an impressive amount of information regarding the performers, the albums, and the story behind each musical piece.

"The Third Noel" presents 13 richly-layered tracks of 11 holiday favorites, including two versions of "God Rest Ye." The arrangements are incredibly creative. The album nicely opens and closes with straight-ahead acoustic beauties ("The First Noel" and "Heavenly Peace"), then plunges into more complex compositions. Several tracks have "singing," but only two in the classic sense; Angelique Borja brings her gorgeously sweet voice to the lyrics of "All Through the Night" in the "Joy To The World/All Through The Night" medley. In other spots, she provides ethereal tone singing/humming ("Oh Little Town of Bethlehem", "What Child Is This," "O Holy Night"). DeMordaunt does the honors in "Be Unto Your Name," using his gentle and emotive voice to sing the religious number; it fits very well in the overall package, even if not a true holiday piece. He applies his own inspired vocal intonations on the first "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."

This fusion rock is flexible, reflecting great imagination. Some tracks sport an ethereal quality that is not-of-this-world (for example, the second "God Rest Ye"); others open rather routinely, then launch into very diverse combinations ("Little Drummer Girl," for example, opens with an electric pickin' fest, then moves into a more heavily synthesized treatment, including unworldly sounds reminiscent of whale songs). "Do You Hear What I Hear?" has superb sax floating o'er an exotic bottom line. So many marvelous moments! All of the tracks are excellent; my personal favorites certainly must include "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" and the "Joy To The World/All Through The Night" medley.

DeMordaunt is a thoughtful perfectionist and the consummate professional; he has definitely accomplished wonders with this wonderful album. "The Third Noel" is an excellent choice for a broad range of holiday listeners this Christmas season.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes:

Arranged, engineered, performed and recorded (and occasionally written) by David DeMordaunt.

Angelique Borja: vocals on several songs
Angela Dibb: flute on "Be Unto Your Name"
Melissa Aitken Marcil: violin on "What Child Is This"
Dave Looney: saxophone on "Do You Hear"

From the website:

About the music:

My compulsive endeavor is to create music that is engaging to the mind; and stirring to the soul. Music that will remain vital and pleasing as time passes. We use positively charged particles to infuse the songs with elements of mystery, melancholy, sweetness, power and sustain. And of course we animal-test to verify results.

David DeMordaunt

The Third Noel

Artist link

Track List