Reviewed by Tim Holden

The Seventh Day Adventist denomination have over the years developed a small but thriving subculture-within-a-subculture where soloists and groups, usually within the easy listening end of music, perform and record for their fellow Adventists. This American compilation is a useful and rather impressive snapshot of what is happening musically within this particular corner of the vineyard. From the opening gospel track "The Introduction" by Laos In Harmony the album quickly moves through close four part harmony, The Emmanual Quartet's rendition of "The Lord's Prayer", and pop rock, Faith First's "Jesus (Down From Heaven)", and even takes in a bit of opera - Angela Brown's excellent "Give Me Jesus". Gospel choirs are well in evidence but it is the acapella numbers - "Wade In The Water" by The Aeolians and "Blessed Assurance" by Soul Influence - that stand out along with the closing R&B number - "Won't It Be" by the best known artist here, Sean Simmonds, working particularly well. All the tracks are well written, produced and performed and stand very well on their own but it is when they are put together in this complication the variety of musical styles is just a little too scattershot to lift this album above the non-Adventist pack.

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