Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Anyone who knows their Southern gospel history will know that the Blackwood Brothers are legends in the field having clocked up 80 years plus of touring and recording, won countless awards and been a major influence on hundreds of other SG ensembles. Their latest album shows that they're certainly not resting on their laurels. Here they take a batch of evergreens from the American hymnal - "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", "To God Be The Glory", "In The Garden" - and daringly recorded them acapella. This gives a chance for the sheer power of these hymns to come out while at the same time showing that the current lineup of Blackwoods can still produce some beautifully executed harmonies. Pride of place on this set is their rendition of "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" featuring the high tenor lead of Wayne Little; I doubt whether a more beautiful version of Robert Robinson and John Wyeth's timeless anthem has ever been recorded. If you've become a little weary of the middle of the road orchestrations of some modern Southern gospel, this set, which almost returns to the shape note singing which was the beginning of Southern gospel 100 years back, will be a revelation.

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