Reviewed by Pippa Rimmer

'This album was made by the bands to promote each other and unity,' says the note on the sleeve. A noble motto indeed. Parachute are New Zealand's leading cutting edge Christian label who also run a festival of the same name. So, what have we got? Well, eight tracks of quirky Down Under pop from New Zealand with a sunny, summer feel. 'Teddy Bear's Picnic' by Barak Zamer sounds suspiciously like The Cure circa 1986 - a wacky blend of screechy vocals and staccato bass. The Lads' 'I Want To Be Faithful' takes it up a level spiritually while Krusty tell us in 'No Fishing' that when God forgives, he forgets our sins too and throws them into the big sea of forgetfulness where he puts up a 'no fishing' sign. 'Crawling" by Was his juicy, raucous bit of pop rock with slabs of grungy guitar and punchy vocals. The general tone of this whole EP is thrusting and vibrant, almost experimental. If this is a fair representation of NZ rock, things are looking up. If world music is your thing, you may want to stretch your horizons as far as the southern hemisphere and part with some cash. This will have you spring cleaning you shell-likes quicker than Mr Sheen. A refreshing, quirky change.

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.