Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Anyone whose read on the Cross Rhythms website producer Zarc Porter's fascinating track-by-track analysis of the 35 tracks on this two CD compilation will know that this is a fascinating look at most of the musical highlights from the studio-based production company/label which has sustained schools evangelism in Manchester for 10 years and more. When one considers that composers Pennell and Porter have had to continually adjust their sound and approach to meet the quixotic changes of Top 20 obsessed school kids, it is amazing how fresh and relevant even the old tracks sound today. The albums start off with two bang-up-to-date cuts the new line up thebandwithnoname and their thrusting rap-up "Justified" and TBC's engaging cover of tbwnn's "Home" before taking us back to Nostalgia Land with stone classics like The World Wide Message Tribe's "I'm On My Way (To Zion)", V*enna's "Where I Wanna Be", Shine's "Lifted" and that immortal collision of HOG and The Tribe on "Jumping In The House Of God". There are new cuts "Dum Diggy" by various members of the Collective groups is pop fun or extremely irritating, depending on your view of catchy pop while on "Set My Heart On Fire" Jenna shows herself to be a singing star waiting for an album. There are interesting re-mixes of Delirious? and Matt Redman while if you're keen on house/rave stompers of yesteryear, cutting edge rock rap fusion or pure and pristine pop, you're bound to find something on this set which floats your boat. The only fault with the package is the lack of sleevenotes but Zarc Porter's CR piece addresses that omission. If I had to plump for two favourites they would be Lucy Britten's "Nothing Compares (With Your Love)" which to me is pop dance perfection, and the extraordinary rapping rant of Cameron Dante's on The Tribe's "Hypocrite". But then, I'm already beginning to really enjoy Porter's "TBC Megamix" on the close of CD2. Yep, 'The Best Of Movation' documents pop/dance history of which the UK church can be proud.

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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