Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

I discovered HSU's brand of funky rock when they were still an independent band. Now that they've become one of the early signings to the new Rocketown rock label, RKT, they look destined to make a wider impact. They are also one of the first bands to be discovered by Third Day and come through the newly formed Third Day Productions. This explains why a significant part of the album is produced by Mac Powell. Just when it seems that so many rock bands coming out of the Christian scene all sound the same, it's great to get something that has a different feel. Here's a band that aren't afraid to underpin the rockier edge with a funky rhythm section and soulful vocals. This band have got the fonk! At a time when it seems almost impossible to find a band outside of the worship genre actually singing songs directly about God, it's also refreshing to discover a band nailing their colours to the mast and penning songs that obviously talk about their faith. So both musically and lyrically, this is a refreshing album. There are plenty of highlights. I love the opening title cut with its infectious groove, "Sunny Days" is upbeat, light and happy and then there's the perfect moment during "Chariot" when singer Shawn Lewis breaks out into a chorus of "swing low sweet chariot.". Perfect! "Can't Leave It Alone" is a slab of '70s funk groove with some superb vocals whilst "Free Me" is a gentler yearning prayer. Ultimately imagine Parliament in an audio car crash with Led Zep and you're in the right ballpark for describing the sound of this album. But even then, it's so much more and at last we have a band breaking the mould!

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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