Reviewed by Gareth Hills

The Bible Faith Remnant are a Bay Area-based aggregation with a stated mission to "introduce Jesus Christ as Saviour to all who don't know him, and to rejoice in the joy of salvation with those who do know him". With this goal in mind, the band have crafted an album full of classic West Coast praise jams, and soulful, reflective ballads. The vocalists and musicians skilfully draw on myriad influences, from contemporary R&B to jazz, creating an interesting fusion of gospel music. The music is tight and the vocal harmonies sweet. It doesn't always hit the mark, and perhaps isn't quite as exciting or groundbreaking as some other gospel releases. But fans of heartfelt gospel music will not be disappointed. Standout tracks include the yearningly soulful of "Much More Of You", the album's breezy opener "Smile" and "Someday Soon" which features some very tasty bass guitar work and touches of Branford Marsalis-esque saxophone. Also worth a mention is the '80s hip-hop/funk of "Direction". It will probably be difficult for this act to break out from their Oakland, California base to anything approaching national popularity, but this is still an enjoyable set.

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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