Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

Erik and Tami Eskelund are residents of Florida, and give us a dozen smartly crafted pop opuses (opii?) in a classy and polished pop style. Five songs are on the UCB Europe playlist, which gives an idea of the quality of the material: the thoughtful "I Know", confronting those who would rubbish the Christian faith with the evidence of a changed life and a God-centred walk; "Like A Whisper", a gentle acoustic ballad, encouraging us to listen for God's voice; "Who Am I", a slab of bright and bouncy pop, reflecting on our insignificance compared to the greatness of God, yet he loves us just the same; "You're My Refuge", which is a bit of an anthem, using the recurring theme throughout the Psalms that God is someone we can turn to for protection, comfort and deliverance; and the title track, a song of encouragement, because just as the re-birth of nature in springtime follows the apparent lifelessness of winter, so a barren human life can be brought to life through the power of God. It's difficult to convey in mere words just how good this album is; superlatives could flow through my PC keyboard like Niagara Falls, yet the ultimate evidence would come only through listening to it. Take it from me, this is a cracker; production, singing and playing, as well as the songwriting, are first class, and I'd encourage you to get hold of this if you like smooth and meaningful pop music. Heartily recommended.

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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