Reviewed by Tony Cummings

An intriguing collection with a serious purpose. A batch of local musicians, largely from the Yateiy area, assembled to record tracks for an album with all the proceeds from sales going to support La Ciudad Feliz, The Happy City Project run by Rev Ramiro Vega and his wife Jenny, who in Ambato, Ecuador, are making a safe haven for street children and vulnerable elderly. With such a vision it would be hard-hearted indeed to launch into this compilation with all critical guns bIazing. Most of the stuff here is acoustic based plaintive singer/songwriter kind of stuff, mostly the kind of maudlin 'my love has gone' type stuff of teenage angst stereotype. But there is a pleasant version of "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" by Judy Divall which even features some Ecuadorian samples, while Dave Wheedon has in "Who Changed The Rules?" a genuinely moving song of spiritual pain.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.