African Spirit - Soweto Gospel Choir

Advantages: This gospel group are outstanding!!
Disadvantages: None

...The Sounds of Blackness, was created in 1971, as a traditional American Gospel choir, but their reputation for contempary gospel has made them a popular group to which many a main stream artist would like to work with. The group is made up of a 50 strong talented vocalists, with the lead artist (Anne Nesby) holding the choir in good esteem. I first stumbled across the Sounds of Blackness on the radio when I heard their singles "Optimistic" and "Pressure (Part 2)". I loved it so much that I rang the radio station to ask for the name of the album. The album was worth every penny. The music is so uplifting and inspiring and touches and celebrates the different genres of African, Jazz and Gospel music. The artistes celebrate the origins of black music as well as it's influences on the world music scene.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A range of styles, can be bought online for a good price
Disadvantages: They are severely underrated, album might be hard to find in shops

.... This is a chilling introduction into what is a very varied album, but works extremely well in hitting you hard and leading you into the following track.... ...which is "Great Divide" as mentioned before. Track 2 on "The Walk". The idea for the song was to raise awareness of the rise in AIDS amongst children in Africa. All proceedings form the single go straight to the PHRU hospital in Soweto, that helps to reduce the transmission of pre-natal AIDS. The song opens with a bold and catchy guitar riff, and in comes the moody and bluesy piano. Isaac recently called it a sort of 'gospel funk' which I think completely sums up the style of this song and the choir add a very special touch. Track 3, titled "Been There Before" is a much more easy-going song, and one that you can have a fun sing-a-long to. This one also features the Soweto children's choir. Lyrics... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great Gospel singing
Disadvantages: None

...The London Community Gospel Choir is exactly what it says. A community gospel choir from London. It is clear that the members of the choir are really into their gospel music as hey sing each song on the entire CD with verve, with joy, with love and with a whole lot of soul. Which, incidentally, is where soul music has its roots, in gospel singing. There are some "gospel" choirs that just go through the motions and perform the songs in a mechanical way, as if they are singing them by rote. That is most definitely not the case with the members of the London Community Gospel Choir. You just have got to know that they mean every word and every note of what they are singing. They are real Gospel singers (with a very definite capital G") in the old fashioned religious sense of that word. Indeed, the sleeve notes point out that the purpose... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful