Reviewed by David Carter

The good friar has been criticised in the past for making albums so identical in sound and approach that only the most committed devotees can tell from a casual listen which album they're listening to. But then John Michael Talbot isn't for casual listening, his artful blend of acoustic, neo-medieval balladry and classical orchestrations are geared as a spiritual aid, enabling us to meditate on some aspect of spiritual truth. This album, his first on his own label though continuing his long association with Sparrow, takes as its theme that God is the master musician, we are his instruments, and we become his heirs and co-workers when we humbly learn how to play music under his careful expert instruction. From this meditation comes a set of lilting, inspiring works with titles like "The Tree", "The Craftsman", "Words And Music", "The Conductor" and "The Final Ascent". Another beautifully executed aid to enriching our spiritual lives.

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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