Charles & Taylor - Reviews - GospelFlava.com

Charles & Taylor

Brother and sister duo Charles & Taylor debut on Integrity Gospel with plenty of the groove, buzz and bump you might expect from a youthful pair —all of fifteen and thirteen years old respectively. But tied to the jams is a great message, a no-holds barred testimony of the Word of God.

Produced by Travon Potts (who has honed his skills with everyone from Monica to BeBe Winans), and also mostly written by him, the self-titled album exudes plenty of flava, aiming to start jeeps bouncing from Charles & Taylor's hometown of Atlanta all the way to the farthest outposts.

"Still Gonna Pray" instantly stands out with its blary horn blasts that punctuate the syncopated rhythm track. Charles & Taylor play out their vocals with an ease here, and throughout the project, that betrays their sibling togetherness. Whether it's their harmonizing or their trading solo lines off each other, the two are no doubt naturals.

The upbeat "I'm So Happy", along with the equally effusive "I've Been Blessed" and "I'm Not Ashamed", are hands-up praise jams. Potts' generous dipping into chunky acoustic percussion works well, allowing Charles & Taylor's vocals to shine through.

"Better Than Life" begins with fast-patter questions, a sort of hybrid of spoken word and rap. Bumping track underneath, Charles & Taylor weave a complex pattern of harmony and solo, making for a compelling cut.

Charles & Taylor

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Praise and worship songs populate a fair portion of the album's 10 songs, with "I Worship You" leading the way. Acoustic guitar and atmospheric windsong effects guide the opening bars, leading the Charles' solo line, which is soon echoed by a chorus. "Made To Worship" is the companion piece, an ode to purpose of our existence —to worship our Lord. The melody is important in both these pieces, and makes them easy to sing along to.

Rounding out the duo's auspicious debut is a soulful remake of "Go Tell It On The Mountain", a tribute to the artists' mother ("Mama's Song") and a piano-caressed ballad titled "Heart Soul Mind".

Charles succinct summary of the group's modus operandi really says it all: "Our music is fun and purposeful and we know the obstacles and challenges young Christians face today. As ambassadors for Christ, our mission is to win souls for the Kingdom. We just like to do it with intense lyrics, hot tracks and crazy beats."

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Producer: Travon Potts album release date: July 12, 2005
Integrity Gospel

— reviewed by Stan North —