Reviewed by David Smale

This is my third attempt to review this CD. I want to do Brave Saint Saturn and this album justice, but will find it difficult in a short review. Creative, honest, diverse, far reaching, humorous - a trip to the dark side of life, and back through the other side to Hope. Throughout, the lyric booklet runs the cartoon story of the USS Gloria on a mission to study Saturn and its moons. The spaceship gets lost behind Titan (one of the moons) where radio contact is impossible. What will happen to the crew - are they lost forever? This story is also told in between the tracks on the CD in a NASA style voice over typical space noises and bleeps. At the same time this is going on the songs talk of hope in a dark world where failures, shortcomings and desperation can seem to overwhelm us - but there is always Hope. This is no typical Christian album! Does this sound too dark and depressing? I suggest you read through the Psalms and CS Lewis to get the idea of what is happening lyrically. But don't worry, the last track puts it all into perspective - "A heart of flesh you gave me, only you can save me, Saviour, Daylight, I am coming home." Musically, the songs are as diverse as the lyrics - synths bleeping, sensitive acoustic ballads and hard driving rock numbers. Uplifting and emotional, this CD requires concentration but repays you time after time after time. Brave Saint Saturn deserve success. Do the crew make it round the dark side of Titan and back in to radio contact? What do you think?

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