Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Nick Breakspear Jones is one of the most creative, powerfully anointed and impossible-to-classify artists currently involved in Christian music ministry. Possibly best known for his wonderful track “You Have Set Me Free” on N-Soul’s dance compilation (still played regularly by Hughie Lawrence on UCB Cross Rhythms), the singer-cum-dramatist, and his team of inventive musos, now emerges with his first full CD and at times it’s quite breathtaking. Nick doesn’t so much write lyrics as pour out his soul in a seemingly total consciousness outpouring which is part Old Testament prophet, part zany iconoclast and part witty observer of the social mores of the world and the church. Production by the superbly gifted Matt Wanstall is exemplary, not dance this time, but an artful blend of pop and rock rhythms. Nick’s riveting blues song about smoking “Rattlin’Cages” first caught my ear through the effervescent opener “Rejoice” and a devastating look at homelessness “Corrugated” are also tremendous. So Nick’s not a great singer. With this amount of righteous passion, who’s noticing?

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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