Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

The second volume in this series sees 11 more demos recorded at Solid Rock Studios in the '70s by the late US Jesus music pioneer Mark Heard. Less Christian in context than the previous instalment, Heard's natural flair for songwriting is captured in the delightful "Bluegill On The Line" and "To Walk In The Wood" which betray his melodic sensibility as well as a country boy persona. Nonetheless, Heard references his relationship with God in the evangelical "Goes A Long Way" and the Christmas song "Bethlehymn". More experimental than its predecessor, songs such as "Life's Ocean" and the wonderful "Not Alone" may well have come from his time as a member of the short lived folk rock band Infinity+3 but unfortunately the liner notes do not shed any light on this matter. Another Infinity+3 track, the cryptic "Second Best Friend", makes an appearance to seal what is already a hugely enjoyable release.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.