Reviewed by Tony Cummings

If you were so inclined to thumb through all the back issues of Cross Rhythms you'd have spotted a number of signposts on the long, and at times torturous, road which led to the making of this stunning debut CD. As If's talented lead singer, guitarist, keyboards whiz, programmer and producer Phil Goss has had more than his fair share of demos both as a soloist and with his earlier band Strangely Normal. Now here is the proof that those years of grassroots dues-paying have paid off. This, As If's CD debut, sparkles with stylistic originality to stretch the vocabulary of even the most inventive journo. Suffice to say As If... fuse pop and rock, dance and indie and even a hint of blues and in the process make something which becomes uniquely their own. Phil's voice has a husky vulnerability well suited to the short staccato phrases he favours while the lyrics dealing with repentance ("So Sorry"), drug abuse ("Flame") and the Second Coming ("Coming Back") are packed full of telling imagery. My current favourite cut is "Fear No Evil" where a throbbing dance beat, and a heavily treated vocal which gives Psalm 23 an amazing impact. If you only buy albums by already established "stars" or your tastes are locked into narrow pigeon holes (rock, pop, dance, etc) you'll probably pass over 'Forget Me Not' when it pops up in your Christian bookshop rack. But if you're of an adventurous bent and want to support a bright new band surely destined to make a major impact on the Christian music scene, get your order in for this one.

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