Reviewed by Trevor Raggatt

In the early '70s a bunch of Jesus Freaks from Texas put together a band to provide backing for their church choir. However, before long they felt called to move to the UK and minister through their music on the streets of Belfast. Thus they became unlikely leading lights of the British Jesus music scene. Only their third album, 'Water And Blood' was recorded relatively late in the band's career at the end of the '80s. Rumour has it the band were dissatisfied with the sound of the original release but the re-mastered CD shows that it has gracefully stood the test of time and sonically it's an impressive reissue. The fact that the band arrangements revolve around classic guitar rock sounds, keeping keyboards largely restricted to Hammond means that there are no dated synth sounds to peg the album at a particular moment in time. Some of Barry Bynum's guitar work is reminiscent of late '80s rockers like Gary Moore but none the worse for that. Tracks like album opener "Talk To You" could have been written at any time over the last 30 years by the likes of Gerry Rafferty while "Crystal Tears", "Raging Light" and "All Things New" recalls the rock/pop of Boston, Kansas or Petra with their harmony vocals and layered guitars. Overall 'Water And Blood' may be something of a period piece but it still shows Jesus music in its rockier form.

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