Reviewed by Paul Poulton

Some people wonder whether dogs have souls. Well, here's a sure-fire way of finding out: play this CD to your mutt and if he claps his paws, wags his tail in time and dances on all fours then there's every chance you'll see your pet in paradise. But if he sleeps through these 10 songs "he ain't got no soul"; and if you stay still neither have you - and that means that either the materialists have got it right or you're dead, pal. Created for The Year Of Gospel Music every track is written and performed by different artistes, all having come through the Rev James Cleveland's Gospel Music Workshop Of America. Gospel music being what it is (never having claimed to be lyrically sophisticated) goes straight for the emotional jugular. The fresh new talent on this album reached right into my chest and tugged at my heart strings (Ernie Ball's Super Slinky's for the technically minded). With hook lines like "If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me" and "God knows how much you can bear" I couldn't help singing along. Ricky Grundy wrote and sang "Jesus, He's The Rock" which has more energy than a bottle of Lucozade. Paul Jackson Jr's superb guitar playing and Jathaniel Nixon's emotive bass features on some of the songs. The mass choir fills in behind the soloists on all the songs. I haven't got a dog at the moment, so could someone let me know?

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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