Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

This, folks, is THE Millennium Blockbuster, and it grieves me greatly that Graham Kendrick had to go to the USA to do it. So, what is the thing like? The first thing it isn't like is a March For Jesus album; the presence of The Nashville String Machine on the prelude gives the game away. Then there's the cast list - Bob Carlisle, Maire Brennan, Michael W Smith, Michael Crawford, Shirley Caesar, and they're just the well known ones; there are positively dozens of seasoned Nashville sessioners in on this, along with a gorgeously ethnic African vocal ensemble, and (wonder of wonders) an American children's choir that can sing in tune. Styles range from inspirational orchestral to funky R&B, highlights for me being "Never Heard Anyone", with Shirley Caesar and Darwin Hobbs layin' down as slammin' a slab of urban gospel as you'll hear anywhere; Smitty's waltzy and very commercial "To The King Eternal", a definite radio hit song; and in complete contrast, Maire Brennan's haunting Celtic reading of "No Scenes Of Stately Majesty", the SDASA Chorale from South Africa with Graham's rewrite of "Amazing Grace", and Graham himself and his simple acoustic rendition of "I Kneel Down". There's a little too much OTT US inspo for my taste, but there are lots of people I know who will tap this up, and the new songs that Graham's penned for this project are some of the best he's written for yonks.

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