Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Guildford's Academy of Contemporary Music counts stars such as Sugababe Amelle Berrabah and singer/songwriter Newton Faulkner amongst its graduates and this release sees the work of its gospel choir take centre stage. Musical director Mark De-Lisser has succeeded in nurturing a group of young singers to produce a mature sound that took them to the semi finals of BBC 1's recent Last Choir Standing competition. Supported by a suitably tight backing band, standout tracks include earnest covers of the Mary Mary songs "Shackles" and "I Just Can't Give Up Now" which showcase the talents of soloists and choir alike. It has to be said that ACM have played it safe in pitching the album at a mass talent search audience and covering familiar pseudo gospel songs - Bob Marley's Rastafarian classic "One Love" and R Kelly's ode to self belief "I Believe I Can Fly" amongst others. But God's name is lifted high elsewhere in stirring versions of Kirk Franklin's "He Reigns" and the traditional "Joyful, Joyful" á la Sister Act. Only pedestrian readings of "Lean On Me" and the obligatory "Oh Happy Day" let the side down.

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