Reviewed by Kwaku

After repeated listens, I'm still discovering new feelings. Certainly a mark of a good album. Award-winning gospel man Donnie's decision to go and play Croydon's Fairfield Hall and record the results have paid off big time. But there are also some hot studio tracks as well. Throughout, the vibe is of a consummate professional going about his business with soulful aplomb. Check out soulful cuts like "Didn't You Know", "Just For Me" and "We Fall Down". He mines the Bible directly with "Psalm 27", and gets mightily funky on cuts like "Victory Chant (Hail Jesus)". Marvin Winans joins him on "Who Would Have Thought", which has a slight reggae-ish breakdown further down. Our man gets into a real reggae vibe on "Caribbean Medley". The audience atmosphere on that and a couple of other tracks mark them as one of the Croydon-masquerading-as-London live recordings. With a superb choir behind him, Donnie takes us into church with songs like "Lord I Lift Your Name On High", and "Great Is Your Mercy", which features some magnificent solo vocals by the choir members. Donnie leaves the listener with a really contemporary R&B funker, "I Do". Very well rounded offering. Highly recommended.

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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