Reviewed by Pippa Rimmer

The St Michaels Singers from Coventry pool their collective vocal resources to record some of GK's best loved hymns at the Cathedral, where the resounding echo gives the whole album a big, churchy feel. I imagine myself standing there, watching the choir practise for evensong. All the faves are there and the CD comes with a song booklet, the GK biography and the stories behind the songs. "Shine Jesus Shine" sounds strange as a choir item when it's usually a rousing belter of a song which benefits from the up tempo beat of a drum kit. It doesn't work as a tepid, religious sounding recital. The organist comes into his own on "Led Like A Lamb" and really lets us know that he's there! Meanwhile, the "All Heaven Waits" gets the solemn. Anglican makeover, complete with majestic, frightening organ! While this style of music is still popular with the over 60s. it will not take the Church forwards in the 21 st century. It's interesting that GK. a pioneer songwriter of the Charismatic movement, has his best loved songs converted into the mosl traditional of old fashioned church styles. It could be argued that GK's songwriting skills are such that his work is versatile enough to be used in any format. If you like seriously traditional worship - choirs, big echoey organ, etc. you'll love this. If you like playing safe they don't come safer than this.

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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