Reviewed by Tony Cummings Music Factory apparently have found a niche market with "music for relaxation" so you get card-style packages of four albums. This release touches on spiritual themes though why they should decide on the overall name Songs Of Praise when the recordings have nothing to do with the Beeb's TV series is anybody's guess. The recordings mainly have a Celtic-tinged approach with plenty of nimbly picked acoustic instruments. As an alternative some tracks feature synths and gentle rock guitar. Throughout, the vocals are provided by two uncredited female singers, one a classically trained soprano and the other a lady able to do the slightly more pop/Celtic stuff. The four albums here have subtitles: 'Divine Inspiration', 'Sacred Melodies', Spiritual Harmony' and 'Angelic Voices'. Ironicly the first album is by far from divine, being full of the most inept, quasi spiritual songs you would normally associate with the New Age (sample lyric, "The answer you won't find/So light a candle in your mind/Keep your feelings true/And love will come to you.") The other three volumes see a switch to Christ-centred lyrics though the choice of songs here is profoundly hackneyed. It's hard to believe anybody would want these dreary versions of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God", "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", "His Eye Is On The Sparrow", "Precious Memories", "Ave Maria", "Amazing Grace", etc, etc. I suppose it's some small encouragement to know that it's not just albums marketed into Christian retail which contain spiritual elevator muzak but really that's a small consolation for such a limp collection.
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.
|