Reviewed by Chris Berry

This is where black gospel meets soul, meets Supremes, meets funk - where black gospel gets crossover potential. 'Spiritual Love Affair' is up-to-the-minute, up front and happening. Play this in your car at full volume - I did - and it will literally take you off into another dimension. "God's Personality" opens the set, and how. These guys ain't just your normal singing set (three girls, one guy, actually) they also write all of their own stuff too. GP", as with the rest, is all about giving us the right way to live: ain't go round sayin' whatever comes to mind saying what GP, as with the rest, is all about giving us the right way to live: Can't go round sayin' whatever comes to mind, saying what you feel though your words may kill, you gotta take the time, realise where to draw the line... You need God's personality." But R&B gospel is as much about the music as it is the words, right? Absolutely. And you won't be disappointed throughout as Da'dra, Mary, Nee-C and Steve take us from the beauty of ballads like "Love Me (The Way You Do)" right through to ultra dance style, pumped up feel of "Don't Sweat It", which is well worthy of chart success. But there's more than just one track which could break big here. Title track "Spiritual Love Affair" is perfect crossover material for mainstream audiences fitting neatly into the Phylis Nelson mode. It will come as no surprise that there's the obligatory Winans involved here too - Mario 'Skeeter' produces most of the tracks here. There are so many good songs here that I was consumed by the maturity of Anointed - try the lyrics to "Where Did The Love Go" and you'll get my drift. Even if Anointed never release another album they can be well satisfied with what they have achieved here - an album of rich vocals, meaningful lyrics, superbly crafted music and beautifully produced and arranged... and original. Full marks and no passes.

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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