Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Former Cross Rhythms columnist Rick Altizer makes the switch from penniless recording artist to become slightly less penniless record producer and delivers a multi-artist multi-faceted brilliant album. Imagine a pile of uplifting modern worship songs but then pour into the mix sensational arrangements and beats, a pile of imaginative samples and musical influences that spread from the Middle East to the middle of America. Oh yeah, and then Altizer brings in an eclectic mix of vocalists to perform his songs. Some of it is just nice, melodic and straightforward like Steve Mason from Jars doing "Lift Up My Eyes" or Mark Stuart and Sarah Macintosh dueting on the aptly floating "Air". Then there are some truly amazing moments like when Mike Roe from the 77s comes on like an old blues singer to perform "Mercy Seat" in a clash of technology where scratchy blues guitar and vocals are incorporated into a state of the art production. And it's this juxtaposition of styles that makes 'Soul Lift' so extraordinary. So it's the incongruous mix of Vestal Goodman's easy listening delivery of "Thank You" over Altizer's production that brings a smile to my face. And then of course there's Johnny! Country legend Johnny Cash sings "I Am A Pilgrim" over an ambient backing and acoustic guitar. Totally creative, incredibly unusual and it really works in a cunningly quirky kind of fashion. Other vocals come courtesy of Natalie LaRue, T Bone, John Ellis from Tree63 and then there's Russ Taff! The CCM veteran sings the classic "Solid Rock" and lets loose with those famous pipes over a backing track augmented by some excellent scratching from DJ Maj. On paper who would have guessed that any of this would sound better than some sort of sonic traffic accident but Soul Lift must rank as one of 2001's most original releases.

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