Reviewed by Andy Cooper

Saying farewell to Pablo, Group 1 Crew is now a duo, but they seem to be none the worse for it. They can still make a hip-hop-tinged R&B album of considerable impact. 'Fearless' starts with a triumphant sounding strings and piano motif before Manwell's pure pop vocal grabs your attention. And then Blanca's harmonised vocal instantly injects enough energy and optimism to get even a blue whale to bop. The production is top rate and despite using six different producers, the album still retains a cohesiveness as it flows through 47 minutes of powerful and occasionally inspiring music. David Garcia does the most production work, but Chuck Butler shows off the track chopping skills of a Masterchef champion in "Dangerous", playing around with Manwell's rap like a juggler with three sharp knives. Elsewhere, there's a balanced blend of robotised vocals to keep in the trend and real enough singing to show their humanity. At times there are reminders of the Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry and even Rhianna, but not too much to smother the Group 1 Crew's own identity. There are a number of up-beat songs about God's love and care for us, alongside tracks that deal maturely enough with typical teenage topics such as parties, falling in love and depression. The complete collection is catchy enough to instantly satisfy, while containing a creative edge that rewards repeat listeners. The square that's missing from the rating simply indicates the duo have yet to find a unique identity.

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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