Reviewed by Dougie Adam

This four-song CD single is the kind of release which makes you look at a compact disc like it's a little technological miracle! How can one metal or plastic five inch disc a few millimetres thick contain and communicate so much energy, fire and truth? From the outset right through to the finale your attention is grabbed and gripped by Fabulous' lyrical prowess, vocal delivery and brand of passionately burning guitar music. Slightly spooky arpeggios decorate the opening seconds of the first track "Learn2Live" but these are soon swept aside by an overblown manic descending chord sequence which is replaced in turn by mighty, belligerent, wild Helter Skelter raging guitars. On the next track the guitar work peaks somewhere up in riff heaven. Can guitars plead, pound or sound like fire? They do here. Somehow. But there is more to Fabulous than comparisons with Radiohead or U2 suggest. The band would perhaps cite the Holy Spirit rather than Thom Yorke or Bono as their biggest songwriting influence, and it's a fair claim. Lyrics though subtle have strong biblical reference points: "A man does not consist in the abundance of his possessions/Now true passion doesn't confine itself to words alone/But on this one-off occasion blood was spilled," informs "Not Tomorrow" before the chorus belts out its urgent plea, "Now is the time" to consider the claims of Christianity - not tomorrow. Elsewhere the band tell anyone who cares to listen that they are bending over backwards to explain what they believe and "Cascade" reads like a worship song whilst avoiding sounding like one! These 20 minutes or so just about have everything you could want. The band are adept presenting their material either at magnificent volume levels or in the quiet of a whisper as the occasion demands. Brilliantly performed, well produced, truly inspired music brimming with spirit, overflowing with passion, melodically strong and lyrically incisive.

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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