There's sometimes a fine line between gospel and westcoast/soul. BY GRACE from Stockholm (Sweden) is a good example. Being one of the best gospel choirs in Sweden, they deliver funky and groovy soul/westcoast together with some great musicians. On this 2005 release they invited some very interesting guest vocalists as well. In the slightly softer "Because of who You are", we get FRANK ÅDAHL (EDIN/ÅDAHL, ÅDAHL) singing lovely as usual. SAMUEL LJUNGBLADH once again proves himself to be able to do almost anything with his voice in "Jases saves", and by golly - this tune swings! There's even a biting guitar solo in this song.
However, it should be pointed out that BY GRACE stand on their own feet too. Their own solo singers like THERÉSE LUNDGREN and THOMAS NYMAN are very good singers indeed. Seven out of ten songs are performed with a lead vocalist, while the remaining three are done with "only" the choir so to speak. One of the coolest tunes is "Reign", partly because of a truly awesome arrangements for the players. Plenty of syncopes and some plinky keyboard too! It's even close to AOR if we stretch it a bit. Even the opening song "If it had not been for the Lord" is a very nice soul, westcoast and gospel mixed tune of high class.
Summing it up, of course there is a gospel feeling to this, since we are dealing with a choir. But westcoast fans on the soul filled side will love this, I can assure you. This is a warm recommendation.
Creed producer John Kurzweg was signed in the 80´s by Atlantic Records and released a westcoast album – under his middle name, John Phillip – before ultimately being dropped.
