Reviewed by Tony Cummings

There was major excitement expressed on social media when the news emerged that First Call, who in times past enjoyed a stream of hit records and were named Group Of The Year at the 1987 and 1988 Dove Awards, had reconvened and recorded this six-song EP. Their fans, long missing their classy Manhattan Transfer-style harmonies and ability to sing everything from jazz a cappella to synth pop, will be delighted with 'Second Birth'. Marty McCall, Melody Tunney and Bonnie Keen have lost none of their stunning vocal ability and anyone listening to their vocals on Travis Cotterell's spectacular arrangement of the much loved spiritual 'Wade In The water" will be dazzled by the intricate vocal gymnastics. The EP also includes the band's fourth version of fan favourite "O Sifuri Mungu" while "Majestic/Majestic" is a clever fusion of "How Majestic", the song written and recorded by Michael W Smith in 1981 and "Majestic" penned by Lincoln Brewster 15 years later. If anything, First Call's version is better than both the originals. It's great to see such classy vocal talents back on the CCM scene.

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