.

Group Name: Perry Sisters
Website: www.perrysisters.com
Album Title: “A New Season”
Song Titles:
1. I Want To Bow Down At Your Feet
2. I Fall Down On My Knees
3. The Lord Of The Harvest
4. He’ll Deliver Me
5. Yes I Believe
6. Take Up The Cross
7. No Matter Where You Are
8. Speak His Name
9. Hallelujah To The Lamb
10. My Heart Will Sing
11. Keep Walkin’ On
12. Under The Blood
13. You Gotta Let Go

Based out of the state of West Virginia, the Perry Sisters were formed in 1974 by Diana Perry Gillette and her two sisters, Bonnie and Carol.  They sang together until 1990, when Bonnie and Carol retired.  Diana reorganized the group at that time and continued to sing until, due to some health issues, she had to retire the group and take some time off of the road.  However, the group is now back doing limited dates.  Current group members include Diana (lead), her niece Tammy Underwood (soprano), and her daughter Nicole Mathews (alto).

“A New Season” is the latest in a long line of Perry Sisters albums.  It is aptly named- this is the first Perry Sisters album in 6 years.  It contains 13 songs, all but two of which were written by Diana Perry Gillette herself.  Of the remaining two, one was co-written by Tammy Underwood and her sister, Tina Belcher.

Now, let’s take a look at each of the songs on the album.

The album kicks off with an up-tempo number called “I Want To Bow Down At Your Feet”.  The blend of vocals is very tight, and they make several transitions back and forth from unison to harmony with ease.  This is a progressively-styled song that most anyone will enjoy.  The next song is a medium-tempo ballad called “I Fall Down On My Knees”.  This is a song with a very strong and needed message.  The tempo stays pretty much the same for Song #3, “The Lord Of The Harvest”.  Alto vocalist Nicole Mathews is featured here, and I like the smooth strength of her vocals.  They provides the perfect foundation for the other two voices to stack above her.  The tempo then speeds back up for the fourth song.  “He’ll Deliver Me” features soprano vocalist Tammy Underwood on a hard-driving arrangement.  It’s obvious from the previous songs that she has a very high range, but she has no trouble coming down into a slightly lower register to take the lead vocals.  Her voice has just the right “attitude” for this style of song. 

“Yes I Believe” is a medium-to-uptempo song that features lead vocalist Diana Perry Gillette.  She doesn’t sing with as much power as the other two vocalists, but the softer expressiveness of her voice is a nice contrast.  The ladies also sound very nice on the traditional 3-part harmony.  Tammy Underwood is once again featured on the medium-tempo sixth song, “Take Up The Cross”.  While Tammy does a good job on the song, it doesn’t seem to “fit” her as well as her previous feature.  The seventh song is a softer, medium-tempo song called “No Matter Where You Are”.  Diana Perry Gillette is featured here once again, and it’s obvious that her strength lies in the slower, more expressive songs.  This is a beautifully-done song that will bless the hearts of listeners everywhere.  Song #8 provides us with another opportunity to hear Nicole Mathews featured.  “Speak His Name” is a slower, worshipful song that gives Nicole a chance to show off the softer side of her vocals- somewhat reminiscent of her mother’s vocals.  The tempo then picks back up for the next song, “Hallelujah To The Lamb”. 

The tenth song is a slower ballad-style song called “My Heart Will Sing”.  This is another one that features Diana Perry Gillette.  Immediately following is a fun, up-tempo song called “Keep Walkin’ On”.  Song #12 is a medium-tempo ballad called “Under The Blood”.  Finally, the album closes on an up-tempo, hard-driving note with “You’ve Gotta Let Go”. 

I’ll admit it- it’s been a long time since I was this impressed with a ladies’ trio.  However, these ladies are the “real deal”.  Good vocal blend, good songs, good arrangements- this is a must-have album for fans of progressive Southern Gospel.  I am definitely looking forward to future albums from this group.  Overall, I would give this album a 9 ½ out of 10 microphones!

Favorites: “I Want To Bow Down At Your Feet”, “He’ll Deliver Me”, “No Matter Where You Are”, and “Hallelujah To The Lamb”