Reviewed by Nigel Bayley

The CD sleeve informs us that the goal of the Australian Emu Music organisation is to "resource churches with songs of the Word" and to prove it, they've packed 'New Song In My Heart' full of 20 new congregational worship songs. So, while it undoubtedly resources, does it also impress and entertain? I'm hoping that by the end of this review I'll have made my mind up. Most songs, including the catchy opener "Behold The Lamb Of God" and the excellent "See Him Coming" certainly do, but some, like the lifeless "Revive Us" and the predictable "May The Mind" fall short. The sound is clean, but rather uninspiring, and the performers all do their jobs without ever really impressing, and this may reflect a desire from Emu to just present the songs to the churches without any embellishments. It has all been put together very well but something is missing, and that something is passion. There is nothing here that grabs you and compels you to join in, it's just all rather lacklustre. If you want some new songs to learn and use, this is a decent selection, but if you want to be drawn into worship, you'd be better looking elsewhere. And so I suppose I've made my mind up . but my Mum loves it!

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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