Reviewed by Tom Lennie

You know, if someone had played this CD to me without letting me see the cover or inserts, I genuinely don't think it would have taken me too long to suss exactly what it was - the latest recording in the Hosanna Music series! For, once again all the main ingredients are here - that big band sound, massive choir, finely honed vocals, thoroughly slick production, over an hour's worth of music, containing many new tunes with a few oldies, and all expertly played. With a definite jazz-gospel style to 'Believe' it's all quite pleasant and at times even delightful, but overall, the word “'mediocre”' comes to mind. While many of the tracks on this disc are in fact not totally new, few are more than a couple of years old and stem from artists such as Tommy Walker (two), Geron Davis and Donna Lasit - this a fine anthem with a very Hillsong feel, as too, naturally, does Ms Zschech's own gorgeous "To You". Few other tracks especially stand out and you're left with a slightly let down feeling. If only Hosanna could tap into something more authentic and incisive - they did so in the mid-'90s with several striking and memorable releases, such as that early Hillsong's classic 'Shout To The Lord', Paul Wilbur's 'Shalom Jerusalem' and Darrell Evan's 'Let The River Flow'. Those were the days! But watch out - it's coming near that time of the decade again!

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