STYLE: Gospel RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 11063- LABEL: Sparrow VC3111 FORMAT: VHS video Music video
Reviewed by Colin Spotwood
This video contains some of the best, and catchiest, songs on the Black Gospel market today. Black Gospel as a category contains a diversity of styles, so here's a few details about this video. What we have is a twenty-four strong choir singing contemporary Black Gospel music flavoured with a hint of rock and garnished with classical (namely "For He Is Worthy of Praise"). There is a balance between up-tempo praise and slower worship songs as well as between entertainment and spirituality. Oh, and most songs feature lead soloists, all of whom offer great vocal and dramatic performances. Got that? The vibrancy associated with a live performance is captured in the studio-setting, though obvious miming and occasional dodgy camera-work are definite negative points. Apart from this, I can only say good of this video. High points include Carolyn Johnson-White's spine-tingling rendition of the venerative song "Our Prayer" and "We Need Your Help" will certainly leave you with warm, fuzzy feelings. Ricky Grundy, musical director and writer of all but two songs, plays, sings and gives short on-location chats between songs. In these chats he tells us viewers of the origins of the chorale and the aim of his music (*l want my music to be able to reach the soul and not just touch the flesh") - a sentiment that every muso would echo. If you can handle the technical weaknesses in this low-budget production, you'll not regret buying it. P.S. If anyone can tell me how to get the words from "We Have Come" out of my brain, there is a reward!
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