Reviewed by Jennifer Brooker

Thomas Kinkade is a contemporary American landscape painter. The music is by Rob Mathes, inspired by pictures beautifully reproduced in the accompanying booklet. Most of the musical material, over two CDs, is derived from just one hymn - expertly done, but a competent piece of work rather than a masterpiece: Aaron Copland meets John Williams. The snag is that the melody, "Dix", which Americans know as the traditional tune to "For The Beauty Of The Earth", is used this side of the pond for "As With Gladness Men Of Old". Over Christmas/Epiphany the album sounds very seasonal. I wonder if it will have the same impact year-round.

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