Reviewed by Dancin' Dave Derbyshire

'Earth EP' is a short cassette of six songs. After a slow atmospheric start it leaps into 'These Chains", a rock ballad with some very good instrumental pieces. "This is folk music with attitude." I thought as I began to listen. Vicki takes the lead on acoustic guitar as well as producing some rootsy, clear vocals. Her flexible voice takes us from whispers to some powerful notes. This album also created a Celtic feel. especially with the title track: a longer track that changed pace more than once. There is also some interesting use of percussion. The flute produces a lovely ambient backdrop and the mandolin comes into its own as a backing for Psalm 139. In "Angels" I found an interesting lyric that reminded me that God opens our hearts and invites us into his kingdom rather than us taking the initiative. Also I enjoyed the powerful use of the saxophone in "Picking Up The Pieces" as the lyrics lamented the broken heart that comes with a one-night stand compared with a long-term relationship. It's a pity about the squeaky guitar strings on this track. Nevertheless, I found this album surprisingly good for a privately recorded cassette tape.

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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