Reviewed by Brendan O'Regan

To fully appreciate Pam Rhodes' input into this double album you'd have to get the companion book of the same title. With the CD on its own I suppose it's useful for the marketing to have the Rhodes endorsement. As with the other Rhodes collection 'Love So Amazing' this album features a variety of choirs with the London Fox Choir (presumably some session choristers) most prominent. All performances are up to scratch and sound like they were recorded live in churches, with the organ present on most tracks and in fact being too dominant at times for my liking. Fortunately there's a full lyrics booklet for when the words aren't clear. Some but not too much of the material is very familiar - like "Rock Of Ages" and "Battle Hymn Of The Republic". There's some Christmas material as well, like a fine version of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" well sung by the Ely Cathedral Choir. One or two hymns stand out - like the beautiful "My Jesus I Love Thee" (Fox Choir) which has a lightness of touch and a subtle piano backing while "Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho" is sung acapella by the Derric Johnson Vocal Orchestra and the brisk gospel rhythm provides a nice contrast to the more traditional church music. "Day By Day And With Each Passing Moment" has a gentle appealing melody with a reflective mood and words of consolation - "Every day the Lord himself is near me/With a special mercy for each hour."

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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