Reviewed by Francis Blight

This was originally to be called 'Now That's What I Call Worship' but the title had to be changed at the last minute after legal threats from another record company! This is not an out and out dance album, but contains reworkings of well known worship songs in various styles ranging from a fast dance track through to arty pop. The album was produced by Mark Edwards who worked on the most recent releases by Sue Rinaldi and John Pantry. It contains a fine selection of performers including rapper/ragga Watchman (who is brilliant), Phatfish vocalist Louise Hunt, Kate from Brother Sister and Kaz Lewis from the Funky Beehive. I must also mention Gordon Henderson who performs an extraordinary rendition of "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross", which sounds like something that minimalist composer Gavin Briars might have produced. Trying to get the album in perspective is difficult. If you approach it from the Christian music world, it pushes worship style forward quite radically and will definitely surprise you. But try listening to it from a mainstream pop scene perspective and I think you will agree with me that it doesn't quite fit. The album contains enough quality songs to make it worth shelling out for, but not everyone is a winner, so it doesn't qualify for classic sttus. If it prompts churches to be more inventive in the styles they see as appropriate for worship, then it will have done well

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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