This marvelous set from includes samples of the various trace sources that eventually crystallized into what became known as in the 19th century, including an assortment of , choir performances, shout bands, vocal quartets, and guitar preachers, emerging as both a history lesson and as an expressive and even at times explosive listening experience. There's so much to be amazed at here, like 's moving version of the spry, infectious rendition of by ( and ), 's dark, expressive, and unaccompanied vocal on 's perfectly poised voice on the "moaning" Somehow both varied and unified at once, this collection is essentially a sampler for the vast offerings in the archives, and each selection leads off to another album the label offers, a clear benefit in this case. Although the term is often applied to all religious music, proper emerged early in the 19th century as a clear attempt to fuse and church music with the rhythms, arrangements, and approach of music in order to reach a larger audience while still retaining the intimacy and power of its musical roots. , of course, then begat modern , and by extension, the whole world of music, so the roots presented here are in part responsible for a much larger tree than just modern . It's a fascinating world to explore, and this sampler is the perfect place to start. ~ Steve Leggett