Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

It's been four years since The Choir released a new album and despite announcing that the band had recorded its last album, they return with their eighth full length studio album. 'Flap Your Wings' is classic Choir. Almost immediately, the atmospheric guitar textures unfold on the opening title cut and Derri Daugherty's voice floats over the wash of spacy guitars. This is beautiful music that has an eye on eternity ranging from the worship of "Mercy Lives Here" and the drum loop-driven "Flowing Over Me" to the band's remake of the classic "Beautiful Scandalous Night" originally featured on the Hindalong produced 'At The Foot Of The Cross' album. But it's not all soundscapes and poetry! "Hey Gene" is an upbeat tribute to the band's friend Gene Eugene (Adam Again, Lost Dogs), who died a while ago, which contains the brilliant lines, "Hey Gene, give Jesus a kiss for us/Hey Gene, flap your wings." "I Don't Mean Any Harm" is catchy, dense melodic rock with its repetitive chorus immediately working its way into the brain! As for a favourite, I confess that musically "Shiny Floor" does it for me with its fuzzy guitar and full on sound though lyrically Hindalong seems to be stretching it a bit at times with similes aplenty. 'Flap Your Wings' sees humanity and eternity meeting in a collection of songs that build on the foundation of their best work whilst stretching things out a little. These well crafted songs are given a warm production which connects and the only surprising thing is how a band as magnificent as The Choir have managed to avoid the commercial success they deserve.

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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