Reviewed by Paul Kercal

Welcome back Michael. This gifted singer/songwriter's first recorded offering, the song "Rising Up" was a bit of a hit on Cross Rhythms radio. But that was back in 2000 and we've had to wait until now for his debut album. It's a melodic and personal affair, unassuming and at turns surprising. It's the singer/songwriter's skill with a piano that shines the brightest within the songs on offer, none more so than on standout track "No 17", which likens the steps of faith to a bus journey, trusting that the driver knows the destination when sometimes the passenger does not. This is reflective and occasionally thought provoking stuff, and the themes on offer tackle homesickness, evangelism and a grateful and worshipful heart and the vogue for telling us that the singer is indeed human is also tapped in "I'm No Hero". All told the main highlight of the CD is showcased less often than I would have liked but, while I enjoyed the jauntiness apparent in some of the tracks, others might well appreciate the more self reflective pieces.