Reviewed by Andy Cooper

Elaine is minister of worship at Home Assembly Church, Los Angeles and in former times sang backups for the likes of Edwin Hawkins, Isley Brothers and Mariah Carey. She kicks off this album with a huge funk feast of a song, "My Rock", with popping bass, stabbing horns and rambling guitar picking. And then "I Do" returns with even more funk than an Earth Wind & Fire reunion. But Ms Norwood, originally from Mississippi, can also do ballads, as demonstrated by the Craig David styled "I'm In Love With Jesus" and the more traditional sounding (as far as Richard Smallwood, for example, may be considered traditional) "Seasons". In between, "Get Up" is more urban dance, along the lines of Sounds Of Blackness. At all times Elaine's voice is strong and as full bodied a production as can be found in North California's finest vineyards. The only aspect lacking is range of pitch: she avoids the extreme highs and lows, keeping to the safer ranges. But the emotion, energy and depth is all there. She doesn't do much of the songwriting, but those that do provide a suitable amount of variety and lyrics that uplift and encourage without sounding over familiar and clichéd. Impressive.

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