Reviewed by Paul Poulton

Eleven hymns, most of which were made popular around the 1930s and 40s. To hear "We're Marching To Zion" with a drum machine snare blasting through the mix seems as incongruous as Fanny Craddock addressing the 1993 Vegetarian Society's annual dinner and dance. But somehow, with Paul Davies sitting in the producer's seat, it works. Living Stones are a choir from churches around the Milton Keynes area who keep their choral arrangements simple and sing flat out, vocal dynamics on this collection of songs are as rare as salami at the aforementioned dinner and dance. But that's the way these hymns have always been sung, with gusto by people who believe that one day we "Shall Gather At The River" but until then we must "Hold The Fort" and know that there will be "Showers Of Blessing". Paul's son, Wes Davies (yes! he who opens the show for George Hamilton IV), has kept the instrumentation simple. These classic songs may be from a bygone era, but like their message, it's always a joy to hear them.

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