Reviewed by Tim Walker

Benson's earlier down-home, Appalachian-style instrumental albums have been well played and easy on the car, with acoustic fretted instruments aplenty, though the world "muzak" tended to enter the mind. When a further recording from the same camp headed this way, I expected more of the same. So it proved with this album, but in the interim there's been one important development: much more creative arrangements. It's good to see the players credited this time - but whereas previous albums have resembled a kind of "acoustic karaoke", here the ensemble works around the 20 golden oldies on the tracklist. Jack Jezzro's arrangements expand upon the originals without ever losing sight of them, and the tracks are more reminiscent to these ears of Phil Keaggy's instrumental work (circa "Beyond Nature') than their predecessors. Perhaps fewer songs might've allowed the musicians to stretch out more - no track here exceeds four minutes - but the playing and arrangements make this a fine album to spend a Sunday afternoon with.

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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