STYLE: MOR / Soft Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 21669-CAS1135 LABEL: Kingsway Music KMC701 FORMAT: Cassette Album
Reviewed by Michael Marklew
"Easter People" is an annual gathering of primarily Methodist folk with an emphasis on worship and celebration. This live recording represents praise and worship at Easter People 1993 and is, in the main, a collection of 1980s classics ("Come On And Celebrate", "I Am A New Creation" etc) alongside truly traditional fare such as "Crown Him With Many Crowns" and Wesley's own "Love Divine". I'm sure this album will be a nice memento for all those present at the event but its general release raises some questions in my mind. There seems little point in producing an album that contains material well covered elsewhere and probably already in the album collections of many. Had the performances brought something fresh to these songs, all well and good, but unfortunately a number of tracks are below par. At times out-of-tempo clapping stretches the time keeping capability of the band to th.e limit, while on other occasions the singers are clearly unsure of the format of certain songs, endings and entries being rather hesitant. In general the arrangements are woolly and uninspired. The only track with any real sparkle is producer Paul Field's own composition "On Fire". Now if the whole album had been like this..
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