Reviewed by Simon Eden

The entrance is evocative; a haunting lone violin playing in a gypsy/Arabic style sets a scene similar to that of the cover photo, an almost veiled lone bride in a desert setting. This is the "Call Of The Shulamite" as inspired by Solomon's Song Of Songs. Track 11 is similar, with the lone violin playing a more vibrant track as the "Call Of The Bridegroom". The rest of the album, from a recording act based in Fairfield, Illinois, is a real contrast. Track two takes you straight back to the US in the 1980s with a cheap children's keyboard and simple pre-set rhythm backing. The opening male vocals are very poorly produced and recite astoundingly weak lyrics. The use of "woo-woo" is laughable. The female vocalist is thankfully more talented, singing her duet parts with passion in a soul/gospel style and having Christian lyrics that sound convincing. Having said that, the combination of the two vocalists on most tracks results sadly in a lack of musical credibility that destroys the message.

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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