Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Following the huge success of the half live half studio double CD 'Pages Of Life', Hammond returns with Radical For Christ to lighten up your life with more stonking R&B. Following the lead of his last album, this includes live and studio cuts and though he had enough material to make another double album, ifs been whittled down to these 13 songs. And what a set! These are songs to inspire you to grab hold of your destiny and get closer to God. From the opening declaration of intent, "I Want My Destiny" to the closing prayerful ballad "Yes He Will", these are songs that minister into the heart. Highlights include the slow funk of "Let Me Know You Now" and the live testimony song, "Thank You Lord". "I Press" is a vibrant piece of poppy R&B that sparks with life and the two ballads "My Father Was/Is" and "Our Father" stand as a centrepoint of ministry on the album. If you saw Fred when he was in the UK a while back, you'll know that the highlight of this album is the old Sam Cooke/Soul Stirrers classic "Jesus Be A Fence" which keeps building and building and shows off the talents of RFC. This is a fine R&B album, full of life but in the shadow of 'Pages Of Life', it isn't quite the absolute classic I'd been hoping for!

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