Reviewed by Tim Peel

Mix classic hymns (the ones Songs Of Praise have week in/week out) with a country/gospel feel and there you have it - an odd album for us punters as the last we heard from Carman was the funky 'R.I.O.T.', but what the heck if it feels good and moves the soul to a higher spiritual plane. The production is very big sound American for my taste, but it tries to lift you and the music/singing is first class (as you would expect from a well funded recording). But this kind of thing is definitely an acquired taste. For instance, those monologues between tracks will challenge most Cross Rhythms listeners to keep a strait face. There is feeling and passion here and I am sure Carman didn't mean the project to be as cheesy as it sounds this side of the Atlantic. But despite all the big sounds and big budget there are real problems here. I take my faith seriously, so why have arrangements that detract from the deep spiritual meaning of these wonderful songs? This album may appeal to Carman completists or those believers with a well developed sense of the theatrical, but it left me feeling deflated.

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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