By John Colling

With their first four releases, the boys of Venice have already established themselves as one of the premiere vocal groups of the '90s, and as in-demand session singers as well, with contributions to CDs by artists including Phil Collins, David Crosby, Warren Zevon, Brian Wilson, an Aldo Nova to their credit.

Of course, it can't hurt that, with direct blood ties to the Lennon Sisters (of "The Lawrence Welk Show" fame), Kipp, Pat, Michael and Mark Lennon have a fine musical legacy to draw from.

However, it should be duly noted that while any man-made instrument can by physically altered to achieve a desired effect, the Lennons' vocal talents are clearly a natural gift at work.

Like their peers in the Beach Boys, the Eagles and the Byrds, the supple blend of the four Lennon voices in multiple-part harmonies is nothing short of amazing.

Call 'em an America for the '90s (without that '70s band's inscrutable lyrics), and you won't be far off the mark.  Touching on the wonders of love ("More of a Miracle"), the priceless value of strong family ties ("The Family Tree"), the fear of letting go (a sweet cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide"), and man's quest for simple solace in a cruel world ("One Quiet Day"), Venice wraps those spine-tingling voices of theirs around splendid yet spartan pieces of calming folk, midtempo rock, and blue-eyed soul with a natural skill and ease that money just can't buy.