Louder Than The Music

Four years in the making, with a cast of over two hundred pulling together many different nations, and the most anticipated album of the year is finally ready for release. 'One Voice' is released on 4th September featuring the leading lights of gospel, Christian and a whole load of other scenes. From Erica Campbell (Mary Mary) to Darlene Zschech, Martin Smith to Smokie Norful, Tim Hughes, Israel Houghton, a specially reformed Nu Colours, Kierra Kiki Sheard, Brenton Brown, Warryn Campbell, Tommy Sims, Muyiwa, Matt Redman, Rance Allen, Bishop John Francis, Noel Robinson.

'One Voice' has pulled everyone together and not just to lay down a quick vocal take in the studio, either. The unity and buy-in from these artists is matched only by the passion and urgency of the songs themselves. The album came about after London Community Gospel Choir co-founder Lawrence Johnson watched with horror as the devastation from the Boxing Day tsunami revealed itself.

"For the first time I felt challenged: what was I - and what were other Christians - going to do about it?" explains Lawrence. The answer was not slow in coming. Before long he was on the phone to Les Moir (Survivor Records) wondering out loud if it might just be possible to get a few people from the gospel and Christian music scenes together to explore the idea of making a charity record.

"An hour later Les called me back. He had been given the use of Abbey Road studio 1. It all kicked off from there." That day at Abbey Road in 2005 turned out to be even more significant than anyone could have guessed, as Les Moir explains: "There was one moment on that day when all 150 artists were in the same room and we realised that we had touched something. There was this sense of these two tribes really coming together. Lawrence and I were looking at each other, and we knew that we needed to carry it on."

Jointly written by Mark Beswick and Tim Hughes, the single came out - with the title 'One Voice, One Heart'. Through sales the track generated £30,000 which helped rebuild the fishing village of Thantri, South India. And back at home the story was far from over too. Regular One Voice days in London drew these tribes together; black, white, urban and suburban, Pentecostal, Evangelical, the net was cast wide, all with the sole purpose of bringing together communities that had for too long kept to themselves.

Three years on and those exercises in strengthening the ties between diverse communities have become something remarkable. One Voice is an album unlike any other.

Track listing:

01 What a Love - David Daniels : Bishop John Francis : Warryn Campbell
02 Let it Be - Rance Allen : Faye Simpson
03 With One Voice - Mal Pope : Cie
04 Nothing is Impossible - Kierra Kiki Sheard : Tre Sheppard
05 Somebody Please - Israel Houghton : Priscilla Jones
06 Angels - Erica Campbell (Mary Mary) : Lou Fellingham : Jason Bailley
07 Shine On (Mens track) - Martin Smith : Muyiwa : Israel Houghton : David Ruis : Noel Robinson
08 Let the People - Brenton Brown : La Donna : El Trio De Hoy
09 All over the World - Nu Colours
10 Anywhere - Smokie Norful
11 Awesome Wonder - Darlene Zschech : Ian Pitter
12 One Voice One Heart - Tim Hughes : Matt Redman : Jahaziel