STYLE: Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 146307-21249 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £4.99
Reviewed by A T Bradford
Cornerstone Church have a music ministry that goes far beyond the urban limits of Johnson City, Tennessee. This is a thriving worship-based community led by Dr Barry and his wife Rev Ann Burns, herself an accomplished singer/songwriter. The title track on this Christmas album blends inspired truth ("The heart of God toward us in a baby") with excellent backing vocal harmonies, guitar and drums. "Here With Us" also has some standout lyrics: "It's still a mystery to me that the hands of God could be so small/How tiny fingers reaching in the night were the very hands which measured the sky," punctuated by some sensitive keys. More powerful piano and vocal harmonies feature on "Anthem For Christmas", there are old classics re-worked: "Joy To The World" with driving percussion. Home-grown classics-to-be such as "The Heavens Sing" brings Burns' sweet vocals to the fore. Taking on the Christmas music genre is a mark of an outfit that has established itself sufficiently to reach beyond the usual overused carols and bodes well for the future of this church's music ministry.
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