Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Blending Britpop with large doses of passion and reflection. Fruit present us with a debut album that is inevitably going to raise comparisons with Delirious?. Indeed the album was skilfully produced by D:sidesman, Blueberry's Paul Burton and has a tight, memorable sound with passionate lyrics and enough of a punch to grab attention. Concentrating on a vibey. intense, brooding approach rather than an all-out, right-between-the-eyes knock out. this works well drawing the listener in. Singer Aaron's lyrical concerns tug at the heart. "Living For The Day" is built on a funky little groove and is a song for our times pleading with God to move in this generation. "Calm Before The Storm" paints a metaphorical picture of the spiritual climate and is built around Aaron's memorable repetitive refrain "Wailing for you". The epic "Here You Find Me" (it's nearly eight minutes long!) is a brilliant song of surrender recognising our need for God which builds to a pleading conclusion. "Be Free" is a chunky, funky slab of rock and is one of the moments on the album where the band actually don't sound like Delirious?! The album closes with a little soulful introspection on the gorgeous "Keep Believing" and I love the title song that recruits believers to stand up for God in the midst of a society that badly needs Jesus. The album has both a stripped down acoustic version and a vibey full band rendition that continues to catalogue society's need of Jesus. Overall, I love this. Fruit's material is stirring and heartfelt but can't help feeling that the band need to fully find its own musical identity.

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