Reviewed by Paddy Hudspith

It's 25 years now since Fred's first album with Commissioned, but 2009's 'Love Unstoppable' proves that Fred Hammond is still sitting mighty pretty, high up in contemporary gospel's tree. Not only did 'Love Unstoppable' hit big on the US charts (number 25 on the Billboard 200, number one on Billboard's Gospel Chart) but also was well-received critically for its premier league sound and production values. Whether solo, accompanied by Radical For Christ, or (re)joining the aforementioned Commissioned, Hammond has always been a trendsetter and standard bearer for excellent modern music that still echoes many elements of previous decades of gospel music. Here, the big sounds and bombast are very much in evidence again, through mighty cuts like opener "Awesome God" and "Nobody Like You Lord" which takes a roll call of the important people in one's earthly life and then puts God in His rightful place. The album reaches a powerful peak with the outstanding "They That Wait" in which Hammond is joined by fellow gospel heavyweight John P Kee for some potent vocal dueling at its huge climax. A personal favourite, arriving slightly out of leftfield in comparison to the rest, is "Thoughts Of Love" and its late night jazz feel with a dash of Latino fire for good measure. All in all, 'Love Unstoppable' is a powerful return to form for the veteran.

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