Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

The rehabilitation of the Great Blond Normanski continues. Hardish on the heels of Frontlines' multi artist tribute album, Scott Blackwell gets his mits on 10 classic Norman recordings and along with other production wizards Aaron De La Cruz, Wonder In Blue, Virus, The Echoing Green and Paul Dexter, remixes them for the '90s. Norman anoraks can have fun spotting from which original versions he's purloined Larry's vocals ("Fly Fly Fly" is the rare Australian version for example! Here recreated calypso style - I kid you not!). So what do you get? A kicking creative album actually! Blackwell and mixing chums add fresh power and life to these familiar songs and make you want to listen all over again! "God Part 3" rocks in a way the original never quite managed. "UFO" remixed by Greg Young and Stefan Nelson from virus is unrecognisable until halfway through. Very Independence Day actually! "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" is closest to the original but with new drum tracks adding a fresh kick. A pounding "Why Should The Devil" had me wondering what Norman could be capable of if he let Scott Blackwell and these guys produce a new album! All of this proves that a good song is a good song and these fresh arrangements deserve to win Larry a new generation of fans because when it comes to writing songs about Jesus, he hasn't really been bettered!

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.