Reviewed by David Faulkner

Can anything good come out of Edmonton (as Jesus might have said)? This reviewer hopes so - and Laverne Mitchell comes from the same part of North London where I grew up, with its large multi-racial population and strong black majority churches. This EP was recorded in nearby South Tottenham at a specialist gospel recording studio with a heart for new artists. It doesn't have a high budget, so the instrumentation is largely keyboard-based, but that does mean Laverne and her fellow vocalists Josia Latty and Donna-Marie Mitchell are front and centre. The songs are MOR ballads or mid-paced soul rather than belters, with a strong lyrical emphasis on worship and encouragement. "Nothing Can Stop You" has a light hip-hop influence in the intro. There is real promise in Laverne's compositional skills, and the vocals are well-judged, with passion but without melisma. Overall, this is another case of decent grassroots talent that could shine more brightly with some decent financial investment. However, within the constraints under which she is clearly operating, Laverne hasn't done at all badly.

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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