Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Subtitled 'Hymns And Songs From Churches Worldwide', this does indeed give an impressive multi-cultural selection offering songs from Zambia, Jamaica, India, the Netherlands, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh and many more countries. Many of the songs are excellent and we would recommend you consider purchasing the songbook if you want to broaden your churches hymnody. Unfortunately, this tape is less easy to recommend. The renditions by a small choir tend to flatten out the absorbing cultural variations of each song and often put the dread hand of middle class Englishness on songs which would sound better sung with more authentic vocal and instrumental arrangements. As it is, often the effect is a bit like those wince-inducing multi-cultural worshippers of yesteryear, the Fisherfolk. Overall, the 'Drawn To The Wonder' cassette suffers greatly when compared with REAL indigenous worship music like that heard on FEBA Radio's marvellous 'Salaam' cassette.

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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