Reviewed by Karl Allison

The most impressive thing about the Winans is that they are still getting better. After 20 years in the business, this album looks set to sell even more than the hit 'Return', and that went gold. Any hype you've heard about this album is true: it's massive. So massive, in fact, that we had difficulty classifying it. In the end, we chose to call it R&B Gospel, but there's also hip-hop, not a little soul and even the odd jazz influence. Every ballad brings blessing and every dance track cries out to be a single. And no matter how strong the grooves get, the brothers still have the vocal character to leave you in no doubt about who you're listening to. "All You Ever Been Was Good" is as masterful a blend of gospel and dance as I've yet heard, with choral arrangements reminiscent of The Sonds Of Blackness. "Heaven Belongs To You" is a cracking good celebration of the life to come ("Angels singing/Joy bells ringing/It's yours, it's yours, it's yours") and there's a revival of "Tradewinds" which Randy Crawford sang many moons ago. I guess that with Quincy Jones as executive producer they could scarcely go wrong, but it is still an awesome offering. I believe it will stand for many years as a comprehensive statement of how gospel can incorporate a variety of styles without losing its soul.

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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