Reviewed by Ian Hayter

The Praise Gathering has been taking place in Scotland for some time now and this handsomely presented set of five CDs draws together the songs and hymns recorded at the event. The Praise Gathering Choir consists of 300 singers from over 90 churches in Central Scotland and here they are joined by the Sheffield Celebration Choir (originally formed in 1985 to support Billy Graham's Mission Sheffield) and the Cambrensis Singers, a choir of Welsh Baptists. With a variety of accompaniments - organ, orchestra, brass and electric - the music on here has a very Songs Of Praise kind of feel (in fact, while I was listening to the collection, several people who passed through my living room said, "That sounds like Songs Of Praise"). There are 64 songs and hymns on these discs (although "Here Is Love" appears twice for some reason and there are two versions of "Finlandia") ranging from long-established favourites such as "Love Divine", "O For A Closer Walk With God" and "Man Of Sorrows" through to some of the newer material from Graham Kendrick, Chris Bowater and Andy Park. There are also one or two uncredited soloists (and a bassoon instrumental!) - and it would no doubt appeal to the kind of people who listen to Sunday Half Hour. If you've got no hymns in your CD collection, then this budget price compilation may be worth investigating.

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