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Thursday, March 5, 2009

Review: Faith In Action - Live


Faith In Action – Live
2006, Faith In Action

Following in the footsteps of some of the more talented college a Cappella ensembles, Faith In Action bring the gospel to Pop a Cappella arrangements. Faith In Action is an all-female vocal orchestra based out of Boston spreading the word with harmony and unusual vocal arrangements. Formed in 1996, Faith In Action celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2006 by releasing their debut album, Live; It’s a spirited and spirit-filled release that gets your attention early on.

Courage My Soul is a contemplative and lovely song for quiet moments. It Ain’t Right starts out sounding like a Bobby McFerrin song with a reggae beat and a wonderfully soulful lead vocal. This song also features some of the most vibrant lip trumpeting you’re likely to hear. Promises is about Adam and Eve, and has an old-school sound to it that would have fit right into one of the Sister Act movies. He Shall Be Like A Tree features a memorable melody and a very southern gospel feel to it. The highlight of the disc is Show Me The Way. The lead vocalist here is phenomenal. Bright Glory (If You Miss Me) follows in the same gospel vein and is a great listen.

Faith In Action seems to do their best work in the gospel realm. One or two vocalists in particular really stand out, and the last few songs on the CD are among the best. Overall, Faith In Action Live is a little uneven, but a pleasant listen. This is the sort of ensemble that definitely comes across better in the live environment, as a large part of the charm of these sorts of a Cappella ensembles is their rapport with the audience. The live recording captures a hint of that, but it’s just not the same on CD.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Faith In Action at http://www.fia-boston.com/, where you will find links to purchase Live or download individual tracks.

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