Reviewed by Peter Dilley

It's a mark of the esteem in which this publication is held that songwriter David Duchene has mailed a copy of this five-song taster all the way from Brampton, Ontario, with an SAE (Canadian stamp) for feedback. Whilst song lyrics are relatively easily described as being of the spiritual reflection/worship kind, categorising Terebinth's sound was more of a challenge - the band's reliance on predominantly acoustic instruments (guitars, bass, violin, drums) gives a framework to the sound, but does little to define them stylistically. The first three tracks are laced with jazz nuances, with opportunity for classy interplay between singer Michelle Jones and the guitar (David Duchene) and violin (Rob Gast), all shaped by Seppo Saliminen's production skills, and underpinned by his Stewart Copeland-like drumming. As if to reinforce those comparisons with his Police counterpart, "He's A Cool Breeze" affords Seppo the chance to lay down a reggae groove. From biographical information supplied, I can see Terebinth are no bunch of amateurs - it shows. Overall, 'First Fruits' is a fresh-sounding set that kept me interested, though it's not what I'd normally choose to listen to. Only a lack of funds has prevented them from recording more songs - I'll definitely await these with interest.

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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