Reviewed by Peter Dilley

On the evidence her debut release, Karen Shadbolt is an accomplished singer/songwriter, who is apparently equally as comfortable with a full band behind her as she would be simply accompanying herself on guitar for quieter acoustic songs. Reflecting this more thoughtful side are "I Won't Let Go", "Close To Me", "The Road Less Travelled", with its quasi-Celtic flute intro, along with the country ballad "Broken Bridges". For something of a contrast, the up-tempo delivery of opening praise track "Jesus, The One And Only", "God Of Endless Grace", "Rock Of Ages" and "Who You Are" hint at a fair amount of influence from Fleetwood Mac (particularly 'Rumours') in style and production, with all of these songs featuring impressively tight vocal harmonies, driving acoustic and electric guitars and pumping bass lines high in the mix. The title chosen for the album actually comes from lines of her finale "Good And Faithful One" - "I don't want to go this way, because it's a long, long road/It seems I've already paid, to learn this lesson before/But I'll keep pressing on, keep hanging on, for the hope of a better day/When I hear him say 'Well done, good and faithful servant'". When life becomes a struggle, that surely is the hope to which we cling in faith.

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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