Reviewed by Daniel Hames

After Ours are a band who, during their decade together, have graduated from playing in village chapels to Trafalgar Square! This album is a celebration of their first 10 years. The band has an eclectic style, ranging from folk-rock to gospel. Some influences clearly noticeable are Santana, Bob Dylan and Graham Kendrick. It is this, and the fact that some songs are from various points in their career, that it sounds a little dated at times. I think that the CD is let down by the production which lacks any real imagination. (Songs like the rocky "All Talk" would certainly benefit from edgier sounds). At times, the backing vocal arrangements are a little cringe inducing, and some lead vocals are stronger than others are (they take it in turns). I would be interested to see After Ours live, where the production wouldn’t subdue the music- some of the songs here have great potential, but the production really knocks off the edge. This is a good retrospective for existing fans, but perhaps not a good introduction for a new listener.

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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