Reviewed by Howard Williams

They say you can't have your cake and eat it but for ambient and techno fans this twin CD is the closest you will get especially as it only costs the same as your usual CDs. CD one contains a dreamy set of studio produced ambient tracks building the sound up as each track progresses without the sampled preaching that usually adorns this style of CCM. In fact, the first vocal sample doesn't appear until track nine, "Prosperity Tweakers" which is the only full on techno track on CD one before returning to ambient for the final track. The instrumental tracks do not lack anything and are emotive but you interpret what you hear in your own way making it ideal for a chillout zone. CD two is a live recording of the Prodigal Sons made in the spring of 1996 featuring the hardcore rap of MC JR Barnee and the keyboard mastery of Greg Hobgood. A full hour of banging techno complete with appreciative screams from the audience. This is not CD one replayed live, with only two tracks repeated in this set, "Prosperity Tweakers" and one of the ambient tracks each transferring effortlessly to the live set. In the words of MC JR Barnee, "This may sound corny but." - you can find out what he said. But, in my opinion, this product doesn't just stand up to the secular scene, it stamps on it. So don't get caught without it.

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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