Reviewed by Chris Berry

Now I'm usually bemoaning the fact that 'other' Christian P&W songwriters don't get the opportunity to get their works put on to CD. Rather like the Lloyd Webber syndrome, anything which has the name Kendrick on it in the Christian world sells by the boatload. Well here we have a group of people from Bolton in Lancashire (don't hold that against them though) and they provide some very pleasant listening with an album of 12 new compositions. So how does it stack up? Well, I'd skip the first two which are fairly mundane and let's say too-typical of the banal lyrics which many are now, thankfully, decrying. In today's market you have to be a very gifted music writer to make a lyric which includes all the hackneyed, clichéd stuff like 'Rock', 'Fortress', 'Strength' and 'Shield' succeed. This album contains some gems though - "Come Away" written by Ruth Shepherd, is a lovely song about being at peace and concentrating on the Lord. It uses simple lyrics, but it seems to talk in today's language, not using the same old phrases. There are others too - "Healer Redeemer" written by Nicole Cassells, and "When I Think Of All You've Done For Me" by Andrea O'Doherty. Okay, it's got lots of references to 'worthy is the Lamb' but it fits. All of the aforementioned are slower, more gentle songs, and as if to prove that it's more difficult to write an up-tempo P&W song the attempts here are a little short of the mark. 'Celebrate" might have been okay but for "Come On And Celebrate" - this one doesn't compete. And check out the Monkees' "Alternate Title" to find out where K J Heys got his hook line from in "We Are God's People", intentionally or otherwise. Nice to see new talent being given its head - a pleasant listen.

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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