Reviewed by Helen Dean

A boon for admirers of the 'City On A Hill' projects who've not yet bought the albums, or for those yet to discover them, this release sees the bringing together of three albums from 2000 and 2002 for the price of one. It's a star studded cast featuring such high profile Americans as Bebo Norman and Michael Tait and members of bands including Jars Of Clay, Third Day, Sonicflood, Sixpence None The Richer, Caedmon's Call and The Choir. Disc one opens well with the now celebrated and much covered "God Of Wonders" written by Mark Byrd and Steve Hindalong and sung here by Third Day and Caedmon's Call. Traditional choral material such as "All Creatures Of Our God And King", Away In A Manger" and "Silent Night" is interwoven throughout the discs with original material in solo, duet and choir formations. The gentle, atmospheric "Child Of Love" sung beautifully by Sara Groves is my favourite from the Christmas album, with "Babe In The Straw" sung by Caedmon's Call coming a close second. Jennifer Knapp's "Hallowed" on disc two, here accompanied by Phil Keaggy, is also in this reflective and moving mould. But with 38 different songs and a plethora of artists to choose from here you are sure to find a good number to your taste.

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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