Reviewed by Tom Lennie

Jon is a worship leader based in Bristol and although he's been writing songs for a decade and a half, this is his debut recording. And what a gem it is! Jon has developed considerable proficiency as a songwriter - lyrically these songs are fresh, biblically-sound declarations of God's stature, goodness and grace while musically 'Found' is a delightful trove of unpredictability, with sonic and stylistic twists throughout. Vocally, Jon has a versatile voice that sounds not dissimilar to Redman on the upbeat numbers, like the punchy guitar-driven opener and "Made Anew In You", but resembles Vineyard's Mark Miller on the more subdued yet intense expressions of devotion. One real standout is the reflective, piano-based "Lord You Are My Hope", graced with superb violin and acoustic guitar accompaniment. Instrumental backing is equally adaptive elsewhere, with a tasty sax making an appearance on "Only By Your Love", where Jon is also surrounded by an energetic choral team. Generous doses of backing vocals (generally courtesy of Jon's wife, Julia) also add to the sonic mix on a number of tracks. Pike's earliest compositions, like "All I Desire" and "Found In You", are also the simplest in structure. Some more recent cuts, like the six-and-a-half minute "In Majesty He Comes", are as genuinely worshipful and congregationally infectious as anything to come from the pens of more renowned writers. A "hidden" bonus track ensures you get well over an hour's worth of music in all. 'Found' is indeed a triumph - all the greater a "find" given its independent release.

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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