Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

I thought every form of music imaginable had been used as the foundation for a praise album but nothing, and I mean NOTHING, had prepared me for 'Disco Praise'! What a great concept! Do you remember how dance music sounded before the advent of drum machines and techno rave stylings? When a mirror ball, a medallion, some clipped funky guitar and a stack of slapped bass lines and sweeping string arrangements were all you needed for a good night out? If you do, then you're older than you look and you'll probably dig this. Affectionately produced and performed by Sweet Jazz Popeye, Leo Padillo and Joey Belville, there are moments of wonderful creativity, most notably when you get a hybrid version of dc Talk's "Jesus Freak" interpolated with Chic's "Le Freak". Great fun! You can just tell they were having a laugh recording this. New material rubs white suited shoulder with disco-fied versions of some classic trax - Leon Patillo"s "J.E.S.U.S.", Al Green's "Chariots Of Fire"' and the ancient inspirational hymn "I'll Fly Away". Cod strings and horn stabs, jangly electric piano, chic-style bass lines and a hundred other disco cliches are employed to give this the right feel. Like all things disco (surely the world's naffest music style!), keep a knowing tongue planted firmly in cheek when you listen!

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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