PRAYERS

Well, this is a rare bird. As much a meditation as a musical work. The title explains a lot, and you could call the whole album an extended form of prayer. This is a contemplative piece of work, and probably not to everyone's taste. Some might get bored, or even fall asleep while listening. Some of the recitations/spoken parts are a bit stiff in their execution, but overall you can still feel a lot of energy here. It is actually a powerful experience if you give it time and some patience. The lead vocalist Chrissie Hammond has a strong presence, supported by Wakeman's own synthesizer park and additional choir singers in the background. Sometimes the guitar playing by David Paton seeks more attention to itself, and is a real bonus in songs like "Hymn of hope". Other personal favourites are "A cry without tears" and "Stay with me", both solemn but still modern and emotionally charged hymns.