Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

This debut release from a gifted US singer/songwriter Warren Barfield must be one of the finds of the year. Going by his website biography, the man has travelled hundreds of thousands of miles across the States solely plying his trade at various churches and venues with often just enough money for gas and cheap accommodation. 11 extremely accomplished self-penned songs are featured here - all of which carry an honesty about his walk with God and God's love for us that is both refreshing and challenging. Standout tracks include "Mistaken" which portrays the writer's desire to live his life in a way that would make people mistake him for Jesus whilst "Pictures Of The Past" deals with the thorny topic of lengthy grudges. There are a couple of well-crafted love songs thrown in for good measure together with some beautiful poetry in the form of songs like "Beautiful Broken World" and "You Inspire Me" which act as an ode to the creator. It's interesting to read in the sleevenotes that Steven Curtis Chapman was one of Barfield's major influences as his style is certainly set in the Chapman mould whilst not compromising his own individuality. As I said, one of the finds of the year.

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