Reviewed by Ian Hayter

This self-produced album comes from a couple whose conversion in 1981 after nine years of marriage and an ascent career in mainstream music led them into Christian ministry and music. Andy White was ordained in 1992 and is now a pastor and worship leader in the eastern USA. The 12 songs in this set are a great showcase for his guitar work and his wife Marsha joins on vocals, together with a tight bunch of musos who add some powerful backing to the whole project. All the songs except two are written by Andy and/or Marsha ("Hide Me Here/Shelter" is by Eric Green and Kent Henry, and "Desperate" is by Maurice Crane). The music is pretty standard fare, with familiar rhythms and undemanding melodies, and the lyrics are shot through with biblical images and idioms. In fact, there's a psalm-like feel to much of the album and that is conveyed both in the language and the underlying attitude of gratitude to and dependence on God. There's even a song entitled "Selah 2u", a reference to the odd, untranslatable word you find scattered through the Psalter. The best songs are those which allow Andy to take off on his soaring guitar solos, but the opening "Well Done" and closing "The Dance Of The Redeemed" are worth a second listen. On the whole it's a competent album, but there is little that makes it remarkable.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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