Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

My usual process before writing a review is to start by listening to the music and doing the research later. However when a "Volume Four" comes my way I think it worth finding out what has gone before. The previous albums in this series by the Bath-based composer have been orchestral and described as being film scores for the Psalms, as befits a composer who has worked on television and radio in addition to being a theology graduate with an interest in the intersections between music and theology. Volume Four looks at Psalms 90 to 105. These are not complete settings of the texts but rather samples with enough of the original to let us see where the author was heading but allowing the composer room to work. Some could indeed be from a movie score and I would nominate Cold Mountain as Faux's music here takes us towards Americana with a simple vocal line accompanied by the usual combinations of guitar, violin, mandolin and so on but all of it with an English accent. At first I was going to compare it with the work of Buddy Miller but it is not quite bluesy enough or perhaps The Lost Dogs but then it came to me: the music reminds me of dear old Eden Burning of happy memory. However, on some tracks there is some spellbinding soprano saxophone work from Andy Panayi that lifts it way beyond the ordinary, reminding me of the beautiful work by Mel Collins on King Crimson's "Starless". Faux's music is tuneful - and in tune throughout - with the words allowed to speak for themselves. One could listen to these arrangements as part of a daily devotional, perhaps followed up by reading the Psalm in full or, with a little more effort, one could learn them and sing along. Or one could sit and listen with a smile guaranteed.

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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