Reviewed by Matt Crossman

The opening track announces Ms Price to the world, but in case you don't already know who she is, let me enlighten you. According to her website, Kelly Price is the daughter of the late Rev Joseph Price and Evangelist Claudia Price, with a strong gospel tradition evident. Her resume as a backing vocalist is impressive too, citing vocals and songwriting work with (among others) Mariah Carey, George Michael and (rather curiously) the Notorious B.I.G. With such a heritage, the quality of this release is evident from the outset, with a mixture of live tracks and studio efforts showcasing a distinctly superior crew of backing musicians and the spectacular vocals of Ms Price. But as we know, in the world of gospel, hot bands and great vocals aren't rare - what makes or breaks an artist is the quality of the songs. What is so special about this recording is the way the Gospel is presented in such a real, relevant way whilst being so darn FUNKY. Elements of bluesy "life story" confession fuse with the brooding arrangements, exploding into life with her choir of backing singers. There's even a bit of jazz flute thrown in. "I Can't Turn Back" is one of the highlights of the album - treading water between stomping rock, '80s-metal driving riffs and Chaka Khan-esque soul funk to astounding effect (geeky fact: Ms Price was seen covering "Ain't Nobody" in the 2003 film Bringing Down The House). Highly recommended for all R&B gospel fans.

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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