One Voice: Every Tribe, Tongue & Nation by Various

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

When this was released in September of last year Cross Rhythms immediately recognised its importance. Here was an album which powerfully challenged the practices and preconceptions of the Christian music world which has for too long been divided along the lines of race. Two separate industries, one known as CCM featuring almost exclusively white artists, and one known as gospel featuring almost exclusively black artists is a scandal, and it's this issue that is addressed creatively by this album which brings together many high profile figures from both camps. So here we have Welsh singer/songwriter Mall Pope, South African-born worship leader Brenton Brown, former Delirous? frontman Martin Smith and Phatfish's lead singer Lou Fellingham rubbing shoulders with British gospel patriarch Bishop John Francis, Nu Colours, Mary Mary singer Erica Campbell and modern gospel hitmaker Smokie Norful. Not everything works particularly well on this album and the sound of R&B tends to dominate with the only occasional flashes of pop rock coming through but when thing fit together well like on the Cross Rhythms turntable hit "What A Love" (with Bishop John Francis, Waryn Campbell and David Daniels), Kierra 'Kiki' Sheard's adventurous move into rock-driven worship with one time Onehundredhours frontman Tre Sheppard on "Nothing Is Impossible" and Darlene Zschech's inspired reading of the biggest song to come out of Britain's black churches, Sam Grandison's "Awesome Wonder", the effect is tremendous. This album slipped out, rather unnoticed last year. Hopefully, its re-release with a new slipcase in March will challenge Christian consumers, both black and white, to reach beyond their cultural comfort zones.