Reviewed by Karl Allison

We told you it would be good! This is the album that should finally convince everyone that God's gift to the schools of Manchester are also blessed with dance music talents that border on the genius. Following on from their considerable triumph at Greenbelt the Tribe have delivered an album that not only successfully emulates their own impressive debut but that also sounds as fresh as anything in the charts right now. Dance music is, of course, very easy to make but it's very difficult indeed to make dance music that's simply brilliant. This is an album that embraces quite a variety of dance styles without ever losing its impetus or sheer professionalism. From the very first power chords of "Alleluia" you know you're listening to a quality product. This track provides Andy 'Heavyfoot Hawthorne with the opportunity to deliver a manic, even ferocious piece of rapping which runs right into a chorus of spirit-driven dance worship that should see the angels wearing walkmans. "In My Life" features the vocals of Mark Pennells, which swing deliciously across the beat, all backed up by Zarc Porter's swirling Gary Numan-style siren keyboard sounds. The heat is turned down slightly for 'I'm On My Way To Zion which is a showcase for new vocalist Sani, and then the temperature returns to boiling point with the searing 'We Take The Blame'. Written to explain to school kids that the world's problems are man's doing rather than God's, it features an introduction from Heavyfoot that should send shivers down the spine of any conscientious believer: Ethnic cleansing, torture and trust is beyond belief, while thousands live in fear of death, bullets fly, devastating families and dividing countries all in the name of religion - WE TAKE THE BLAME. It's straight to the heart, pulverising stuff. And the beat never stops. And so it goes on, track after track. 'There's Something Going On', the hauntingly beautiful 'Where Are You Going' and the intense swing beat of 'Walking In The Glory Of The Graceland' which proved such a hit at the CR dance party. Astonishingly, there is still time for the Heavyfoot to deliver his best work across the jazz-rap backing of 'Get God' and for Zarc to further display his genius with a couple of remixes. This is the work of a mature outfit, a group of believers who have a firm grasp of what they believe God wants them to say and the way He wants them to say it. Here is an album that has sufficient depth to bless and challenge you from the speakers of your own stereo. The World Wide Message Tribe have truly arrived and have brought the Spirit with them.

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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