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I must admit, I don't usually go for this type of music. I had to get this CD after discovering my all time favourite singer, Donna Summer, featured on a song. I thought that song, and maybe a couple others would be good, and the rest filler.

Was I wrong or what!! Darwin Hobbs is a gospel singer who sounds somewhat like Luther Vandross, and his style is straight R&B, very well produced.

Opening track `Everyday' is a great introduction to this CD. Featuring Michael McDonald (whose voice I love), it is a very happy, upbeat, groovy dance number, extolling God's goodness everyday.

The Luther connection is even more pronounced on the next track, a cover of Luther's beautiful ballad `So Amazing', which stays remarkably true to the original, but with God slipped in here and there. Great backing vocals from gospel girl group Virtue. Darwin sounds exactly like Luther on this song.

`Deeper' is another upbeat funky number. About wanting to go deeper with God.

Next up is the mid tempo `Cast all your cares', with lyrics about casting all our cares onto The Lord, done as a song from God to us. Some retro sounding organ on this one. The final 2 or so minutes take on a gospel choir fervor. Great!

`Just singing of you' is a beautiful ballad about how he loves just singing of You!!! Again, some great organ playing, and some Kirk Franklyn style choir on this one.

Then comes my reason for getting this CD. `When I look up' is a beautiful ballad with birds tweeting at the beginning, giving a feel of nature, and lyrics about how we need God to fill the hole inside of us. When I look up/I look to Christ/who fills my cup. Donna Summer is stunning on this song with her rich vocals, and Darwin more than holds his own too.

`My promise to you' is a deeply moving ballad. Again, done as a song from God to us. We can always count on God coming through, that's his promise to us. He'll never give us more than we can bear. Beautiful, and much needed hope for running this race on earth.

`A medley of worship' surprisingly turned out to be my favourite song. An absolutely stunning ballad which comprises `You are my hiding place', `Great is your mercy', `El Shaddai' and , `You are holy', with a powerful prayer spoken. Delicate instrumentation, lush strings, tender piano tinklings, an excellent backing choir, and a stellar performance from Darwin. A worthy offering to The Lord.

Closing the CD on an upbeat note is `Crown him lord' (song title says it all) a stomping horn laden dance song with a great joyous sounding choir.

Superb!

Review by: Nse Ette, Amazon.com