Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

In contrast to the EP of duets with Huw Priday reviewed below, Elizabeth's solo project is 49 minutes of just her voice, with simple piano or organ accompaniment by Jeff Howard, recorded in the atmospheric setting of Oystermouth Parish Church in Swansea, mixed and mastered at ICC Studios, Eastbourne and featuring a broad cross-section of classical sacred material, one or two old hymns, a couple of Negro spirituals, a chunk of The Messiah, Stephen Adams's old favourite The Holy City" and 'Amazing Grace". At all times, Elizabeth's delivery is crystal clear with none of the exaggerated vibrato adopted by some operatic divas and she is totally in control throughout. Her reading of The Holy City", unlike some feeble attempts from lesser singers I've heard lately, gets the vocal ooomph it deserves; other highlights are Handel's "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth", "Pie Jesu" (from Faure's Requiem rather than Lloyd Webber's), and a stirring acappella arrangement of "Were You There" that uses the church's live acoustic perfectly and is a fitting end to an excellent album. Heartily recommended.

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