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  20/85 The Experience —Hezekiah Walker  Corralling an assembly of the finest songwriters that Gospel offers, and with Donald Lawrence on board to produce, Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir deliver a fresh anointing of 12 pieces, new music that is also instantly classic 'Hezzy'. Penned by the likes of Jules Bartholomew, David Frazier, Joeworn Martin, Sean Brown, Anthony Williams II, Nate McNair and others, 20/85 The Experience goes down as one of the nicest things to hit Gospel this year.The album is a mix of melodic ballads and choir jams, with some segues thrown in for good measure. Jules Bartholomew has written some of the most recognizable songs for LFC over the past 20 years ("Come Home", "Calling My Name"), and continues that excellence here with songs such as "It's More Than That", with a powerfully rich lead from Craig Wiggins. Lyrics with inventive word rhythm and rhyme ("I sit and look back in retrospect, On how can I expect, to justify one reason to love You, It almost seems like disrespect oh when I recollect on how many reasons, Just why I should love You") flow over an nicely understated mid-tempo groove, with choir throwing down echoed lyric motifs to Wiggins' gritty richness. Bartholomew also pens "Faithful Is Our God", a choir-only ballad with smash status written all over it. Lloyd Barry's horn arrangements, together with Bartholomew's keyboards, Joeworn Martin's organ and Jonathan Dubose's guitar, propel the driving melody which proclaim's God's promises. The Love Fellowship Choir and Love Unlimited, together with a select crew of backing vocalists bring full-throttle harmonies, with occasional detours to unison for extra impact.
Tonéx (aka Anthony C. Williams, II) writes "On Tyme God", with the 'y' in the title hinting that this is not at all a cover of the Dottie People's classic from the 1990's. With T.Bizzy on board for rap flows, and with Walker intoning with his new millenial vibe vocals, it's urban music time again for LFC. On the more traditional tip, there's the Troy Ellis cut, "Celebrate", and also Nate McNair's "He's Able", both of them hands-up drives featuring that famed LFC enthusaism. "Lift Him Up", from Joeworn Martin, will 'light up the phones', as they say in the radio business, hearkening back to the vibe that first set the nation abuzz on the choir's debut I'll Make It project from 1985. The album ends of fitting note, the 2-track extenda-cut, "Grateful". Written by Sean Brown (who until now has been known mostly for the hits songs he has composed for Youthful Praise), the piece begins with a gentle choir introduction and ad libs from Walker, both of whom reflect on God's mercies and victories over guitar and keys. The song then transitions into a vamp ("gratefulness is flowing from my heart"), with the focus on modulating choir parts. Moving to the reprise, much-loved and longtime LFC soloist Kervy Brown takes the mic to drive home the point, with soloists David Hollister and Rubenstein McClure join in with Brown to put an exclaimation point on the praise. Totalling over 14 minutes of gratitude-laden praise, the song serves as a summary of Hezekiah Walker and LFC's perspective over the past 20 years —since 1985.
Email This To A Friend Verity Records — reviewed by Stan North —
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