Reviewed by Andy Long

Angela DiPrima's tender acoustic songs will appeal to fans of Joni Mitchell and Janis Ian, or, more contemporarily, Sheryl Crowe and Jan Krist. Recorded in a purely live and acoustic setting 'PAP' is an authentic sounding album with sparse and simple arrangements which accentuate the poetic lyrical narratives. Some of the songs talk about Angela's love for her adopted homeland, notably "Beneath South African Skies" which is a whistle-stop tour through the country and "Brick By Brick", inspired by the 650 families living in Tambo Square, a squatter community in Guguletu, Cape Town. Other titles such as "Yet I Will Worship", "Remind Me" and "The Lover Of Your Soul" have a Psalm-like quality of worship and reflect a personal intimacy with the Creator. For me the outstanding song is "Wartime Student Of The News". "At the end of the day...what is my response?" asks Angela in the liner notes. "Ashamed of my indifference, unable to finish my evening meal, I reached for my guitar and pen and began to pray. This is the result. A reminder that not everyone 'lived happily ever after'."

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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