Reviewed by Brendan O'Regan

Now here's a delightful oddity that defies categorisation. Trinity is a Dutch band that blends Celtic, Latin American, African, soul, funk and even country music influences. I was reminded of Mumford & Sons, the Mavericks, or from an earlier time McGuinness Flint. Produced with style by Gordon Groothedde, 'Mundo' is no musical hotchpotch, as an infectious joy, confident vocals, thoughtful lyrics and varied instrumentation binds the whole project together in a most satisfying way. This is evident right from the start, with "Unbreakable", a song that celebrates the strength of the human spirit despite adversity - "Why are you unbreakable/So unshakable/A hero in disguise, I see it in your eyes." There are plenty of observations on modern society like the critique of social media on "Days Fly By" - "My life's just fine and I can't complain/But this online world is driving me insane/If I could only escape, take a break for a while." My favourite song is the gorgeous love song "Nowhere Without You" which features the finest of harmony vocals by Neema Ntalel. Coming in a close second is the inspiring song of blessing "May You Have" - "In the night I'll light a fire/So you won't get cold /In the dark I'll be around you /Like a guardian angel." The sleevenotes are comprehensive but there's even more background to the songs on the band's website - worth checking out - bandtrinity.com

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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