Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

On first glance at the album sleeve, you’d be forgiven for expecting some sort of soulful stuff, especially when the publicity blurb proclaims that Raymond is a native of the Motor City itself, Detroit, Michigan. Sadly, the Winans this ain’t. How can I describe the rather limp listening experience that this CD represents? I can only compare him to Larnelle Harris in his “blacks without soul” mode. If I’d have got "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree", I wouldn’t have been surprised, but instead I got a jog-along rehash of John Wimber’s classic "Spirit Song", a fairly decent, if rather flowery, reading of "The Old Rugged Cross", spoiled somewhat by a stratospheric Kate Bush-style female descant, and a bunch of forgettable self-penned tracks that featured some more extremely dodgy female voices that honoured the melody more in the breach than the observance. Coupled to that, the man’s voice comes over as lacking in power and expression, and with none of the technique I would have expected from someone whose CV lists parts in Broadway shows such as Showboat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Ragtime. Very disappointing.

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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