Reviewed by Phil Thomson

Curtains up on vinyl theatre. Juvenile it may be, but this is pure tongue-in-cheek, iron fist parody in velvet glove entertainment. Wrapping rich folds of sound and rhythm; layers of radio rip-off, sample and scratch - magnificently, brilliantly, intelligently thrown away with clinical precision. I've never heard anything like it. Joseph's coat of many colours gets a new slant; Sandi Patti is irreverently sent up in the amazing "I Can Sing Higher", and lyrical pyrotechnics abound, no more so than in an almost abstract "We're Stupid" - which they certainly are not. Say what? exude acceptable arrogance; each track is pure cameo conversation with a narrative evocation of intimate, nitpicking self-righteousness. Listen closely and you'll find yourself in there somewhere. I can't remember the last time a Christian release caught me out, but in places, it had me laughing with surprise. No matter that it's an emotional zero - rap doesn't work like that: it's eloquent, textural, diverse, and it never lets up. This is vital stuff. Fresh fish? Suspend your disbelief, lay your cap on back to front, turn yourself into a bendi-toy and get sucked in.

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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