Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

SCAMPS is the performing arts club of St Marie's Catholic Junior School, Rugby, and 'The Hope Of Tomorrow' was written and compiled by two of the school's staff members, guitarist Michael Floyd, who wrote the words, and pianist John Howes, who wrote the music. After the opening chorus "Heaven And Earth: The Beginning", there's a song about the wonderful gift of a new baby. Then two of the old saints, Gregory and Augustine, get in on the act; Gregory, on being shown some children who were described as Angles (ie, English), is alleged to have replied, "Not Angles, but angels." The third section majors heavily on St Thomas Moore, including his vision of Utopia; and Section Four "The Crying Child" mentions abuse, optimism, work, and the one who cares for the children, Jesus himself. Closing proceedings, "Heaven And Earth: The End" mentions Heaven, the big party that'll be going on upstairs (as The Electrics might say), and the final song, and the title song of the whole thing, is based on a quote from Pope John Paul II: "Dear young people, in the Church of today, you are the hope of tomorrow." Assessed as a performance, the kids are enthusiastic but off key quite a bit of the time; the musicians, made up of staff, pupils and guests, are sometimes badly out of tune, with themselves and with each other, and overall, it's pretty poor stuff. Full marks for effort, but as a listening experience, I can't recommend it for general consumption. Sorry.

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