Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

From the label that brings you the amazing Chris Taylor come something completely different. I guess you'd place this somewhere in the inspirational/p&w genre but there's something nagging about this that separates it from the usual MOR dross. Somehow Mary Kathryn manages to put a slant on these tunes to keep the listener interested, even though sometimes it is in danger of heading off towards the Planet Cheese!! Originally independently recorded and released in 1994, there are some great moments here - "Lofty Eyes" is a broody pulsating funky little thin; "Unto You" has some ethnic drum sounds and some chanted vocals undergirding Mary's simple praise song and "Risen King" has bagpipes and drum backing! Elsewhere though, I'm not convinced about "Do Not Faint" and the opening title song "Every Good And Perfect Gift", both of which wouldn't sound out of place on the Eurovision Song Contest (and scored nil points from the Pippa Rimmer jury!). Those reservations aside, "It Hurts Him" has an intriguing floaty feel and the closing ballad "You Are The Christ" closes the album with 90 seconds of the most beautiful singing in tongues! Ms Kathryn is already making a bit of a name for herself as a worship leader or featured performer at various American conferences and the follow up album to this one is due any day now. If this album was a weather report it would be mainly sunny with a few patches of rain. I have high expectations for the next one!

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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