Popular gospel keyboardist, singer, and superproducer
Fred Hammond knows that the secret to getting gospel to cross over into the mainstream modern R&B world is heating up the productions to match the best pop stuff on the charts. He's certainly got a handful of intense vocalists -- both solo and as a mini-choir -- with the eight-piece
Singleton family, six girls and two guys. Titling a gospel song "Hallelujah" is about as obvious as you can get, but
Hammond backs their call-and-response voices with chunky, throbbing grooves and wild retro keyboard elements. "Let's Bring Him In" offers a hypnotic blend of anthemic vocals, thick beats, and a wall of crunchy electric guitars. "Soles of My Feet" mixes jangly acoustic guitars with exotic percussion textures. A little more of the traditional gospel feel comes out on the title track, with
Luther "Mano" Hanes' shimmering organ dominating behind the wild sister act singing up a storm. Overall, an outstanding family affair led by a gospel legend who just never misses. ~ Jonathan Widran