Reviewed by David Faulkner

Kathryn's second CD features her gentle, pure soprano vocals and acoustic guitar, plus piano, keyboards and programmed instrumentation from Richard Braithwaite and Joe Miles. The singer describes her music as "ecumenical" and that is reflected in the choice of songs. As well as her own compositions, she ranges from the end of New Church music that has found its way into the older denominations such as Dave Evans' "Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord" (but with the reference to 'fear' removed) to Catholic folk mass (Dan Schutte's "Here I Am, Lord") and her own version of "Ave Maria". Those old enough to remember The Fisherfolk from the early days of charismatic renewal will recognise the musical style, but the spirituality is a little different. Crossweller sings at Taizé services and also performs at inter-faith events (although everything here is explicitly Christian). Her "peaceful and meditative" approach fits better with the older and more theologically middle of the road styles of some traditional churches. Just one question: why does Kathryn's song "Dear Lord, I Give To You My Heart" contain the lines, "So I will wait and listen and learn/Until I am worthy enough"? Unlike the rest of the album, it overlooks the grace of God.

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