Reviewed by Ian Hayter

Ria Music Ministry – Gloria E Giannuzzi and Maria C French – have been participating in music ministry amongst the Roman Catholics of North America for 25 years now and ‘Songs Of Hope’ is the first of a series of nine CDs which will include more than 100 of their religious songs. In fact, this album contains the title songs of all those which are to follow. Alas, on hearing this, I would give the others a wide berth. The two ladies have passable singing voices, but they sing most of their songs in unison and appear to be clinging to the same notes in case one of them should fall off, which they very nearly do in the lower and upper registers (“We Believe” and the nearly nine minutes of “All Holy Saints” are prime examples). Their undistinguished voices drone on over an unimaginative accompaniment which sounds as if it is being knocked out on a couple of Portasounds with no possibility of changing the tempo or rhythm.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.