Six top singers combine on Signum's first volume of Poulenc songs, which includes settings of poems by Ronsard, Cocteau, Apollinaire and others. Poulenc's singular mix of whimsy, religiosity and cool wit guarantees plenty of variety, and each song has a characteristically elaborate, note-rich piano part. Malcolm Martineau accompanies with judicious, sharp-eared facility and experience. Christopher Maltman delivers the drinking song "Chanson à boire" with duly perverse solemnity; Lisa Milne captures the mood of unadorned poignancy in "La dame d'Andre"; Felicity Lott remains fresh and idiomatic in "Lune d'avril". Despite Roger Nichols's useful essay, the booklet layout is unhelpful, with constant need for cross-reference, but it does at least provide texts.