Reviewed by Doug Holland

The key to the effectiveness of this delightful recording is the quality of the songs chosen to explore and unpack the issue of the Christian's walk with and reliance upon God through all the times of life. 16 tracks and approximately 67 minutes of music are on offer, with the Songsters accompanied in the main by piano/keyboard but with additional string, brass and woodwind instruments parts sprinkled effectively across the recording and contributing enormously, with every song having something substantial to say. This is a feel good listen for the Christian not because of any message that God will sort everything out for us here on earth but rather because of the much more valuable truth that he is with us through everything here on earth, and so there is an honesty about life's struggles in many of the songs that the majority of listeners will be able to relate to and which will resonate with them. The Portsmouth Songsters of The Salvation Army, formed in 1900 and numbering around 40, sound excellent, delivering the many beautiful melody lines and sensitive supporting harmonies with aplomb and working well with their accompanists. Line-ups such as the one here sometimes struggle to deliver genuinely joyful up tempo numbers. But that is managed here and such tracks compliment perfectly the reflective and the story-telling ones. All in all, a very strong piece of work.

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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