Reviewed by Steve Best

Always fascinating to hear a bit of acapella. These guys from Handsworth have done their stuff on Songs Of Praise and even hosted their own acapella series on BBC Radio 2, so it's clear they know how to make unaccompanied harmonies sound sweet on the ear. Inspired by the likes of Sweet Honey In The Rock, Mahalia Jackson and Take Six, Black Voices have taken their own approach and looked to re-present black music from what they describe as a "Caribbean, black British perspective." On this album you'll get gospel, spirituals and even a dash of reggae. Watch out particularly for the fascinating "Street Suite" and the brilliant aforementioned "Reggae Mix", which features among others the old Sophia George chart hit "Girlie Girlie", and bizarrely the Jennifer Rush slush-fest "The Power Of Love". Despite such a fast-and-loose approach to song selection there is some exemplary singing featured here.

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