I can't hold back any more! Christine Collister's voice is caressing my ears as I write, and I feel moved to commend "An Equal Love" to all you lovers of great music. I know quite a few of you are familiar with the Isle of Man's greatest gift to music; many more won't be. This is her third solo studio album, and to these ears it's her best yet. Her voice is just so beautiful that it hurts; and it's a beautifully arranged and sequenced album, mixing her own songs with well-chosen songs of others. Fans of Sarah McLachlan will want to hear her version of Full of Grace, and the closing voice-and-guitar rendition of Moon River is simply exquisite. One possible objection is that a couple of the songs may be a bit too produced, although I think the songs and singing are so strong that their power can't be quelled. If she's touring your neck of the woods, please treat yourself - Debra Shea and I went to see her at the end of May, and Debra has already mentioned how great that was. Anyway, that's enough slavering idolatry for now... Azeem in London on a lovely warm sunny afternoon - I've even got my shorts out of the cupboard! NP: Christine Collister - Motherless Child (a capella and stunning)
