Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

A second album from Douglas Powell who variously goes under the moniker Brother Douglas and douglasdouglas.com. Confused? Yeah! Me too! One thing is for certain though, the man is blessed with a distinctive soulful voice, rich, full and emotional and he has a spiritual vision to create music to be enjoyed not as snacks but a full meal. Where Douglas's previous album was aimed more at taking non-Christians on the first steps of a spiritual journey, this is part two of the journey dealing with some important issues. Thus this album is a journey with a selection of songs designed to minister deeply and draw you closer to God but not in an obvious worshippy way but rather dealing with some deeper issues and conflicts. For me, the best way to hear it was to listen late at night, lights down low and the music booming straight into my ears via headphones - well, it worked for me. Highlights include the laid back, blissed out soul of "Listen", "Again" and at the other extreme the deep guitar-driven groove of "Wall Street" which reveals a new side to his music with some 70s Motown influences coming through. Less jazzy than his first effort with a slicker production, there's still some blues and jazz bleeding through. Two of my favourites, "Pride" and "Last Time", both have a bluesy feel whilst the most evocative track on the album is Sad Harvest with its observations on contemporary society, movingly delivered with insight and sadness. If true soul is music that reflects strong emotional commitment, douglasdouglas.com has it in spades.

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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