Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The deluge of Talbot releases over the last few years either shows there is a huge market for Catholic meditative music, or, more likely, its another example of record company overkill. In the review of another album in this series 'Pathways To Wisdom' (CR45) the reviewer commented it was "hard to distinguish the character of each track much less explain the choice of titles" and nothing has changed here. 'Pathways To Solitude' features John Michael Talbot's acoustic, a lush cushion of strings and woodwind and songs with titles like "Mirror", "Monos" and "Exiles", which are all slow. You only hear odd bits of vocals - neo-Gregorian chant with chorus singing (presumably) Latin in a blur of reverb. Phil Perkins arrangements are restful and rich, if at times over elaborate but this really is an album more to aid meditative experience than to listen to per se.

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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