The Anointed Pace Sisters – Access Granted

The Anointed Pace Sisters
Access Granted
Tyscot Records 2009
www.tyscot.com

Take the cherubic close harmonies of the Famous Ward Singers in their prime, add the muscular evangelistic hard-singing of the Famous Davis Sisters, throw in the contemporary flair of the Clark Sisters and voila! You have the Anointed Pace Sisters.

The Anointed Pace Sisters’ newest offering and second live CD for Tyscot Records, Access Granted, was produced by the talented Alex Asaph Ward, who captures the singers in a variety of emotional hues. The one constant throughout the album, however, is the group’s seemingly effortless vocal interplay and democratic practice of spotlighting individual members as lead singers. There is plenty of diversity among the sisters, too. For example, Duranice is a hard-singing shouter, Leslie a churchy vocalist, while Lydia and Latrice have the RnB chops. Melonda has a sweetness to her voice, ideal for praise and worship ballads such as “Daily.” Each of the sisters has her moment at the microphone, and clearly there’s not a weak singer among the eight.

“If I Be Lifted Up” is the current radio single culled from Access Granted because of its steady beat and comfortable vibe, but the real gems here include “Finally,” a “hold on, be strong” song befitting the times. Duranice’s fiery song-preaching at the conclusion raises the temperature, turning the track from a powerful performance to a church wrecker. Another exceptional selection is Leslie’s pulse-pounding aisle-walking workout, “Jesus Will (Do It Again).”

“Seed of Righteousness,” led by Latrice, is about grasping the golden ring of prosperity. Its catchy Afro-beat fits neatly with the overall message of the “generational curse no longer binding me.” “It’s My Time to be Blessed” borrows from Ecclesiastes, and like “Seed of Righteousness,” the point is that today is the time for reaping.

The finest cut on Access Granted is “Someday,” written by Tyscot’s own Bishop Leonard Scott. It is also arguably the Anointed Pace Sisters’ finest performance to date. Led by Latrice and Lydia, “Someday” is a pop-swabbed ballad with an anthemic chorus and lyrics that are modern day variants of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” The sisters shake their heads at the troubles of the world and implore everyone to stop the violence (between nations, neighbors, loved ones) and embrace peace. It is a touching message with a lovely musical backdrop, and stands out like a high-beam of hope on the night sky.

Four of Five Stars

gPod picks: “Someday,” “Jesus Will Do It Again,” “Finally,” “If I Be Lifted Up”