Reviewed by Paddy Hudspith

Michael leads the music worship team at Glasgow Elim Pentecostal Church and also has been ministering elsewhere locally for the last few years. Consequently a bank of his own congregational worship songs has built up and here he offers a polished debut showcasing 10 of them. Stu Kennedy offers an impressive production pedigree, having worked in film (the latest Narnia movie) and music (George Michael's Symphonica tour) and thus sonically 'Glory To Glory' does not disappoint. As Trotter leads from the keyboard rather than the failsafe acoustic guitar, refreshingly the style follows a Billy Joel/early Elton John piano-led direction but there is variety on offer too: "Fire Fall" is surprisingly chunky riff-rock, and "My Lovely Child" (borne out of a teaching focus at Glasgow Elim focusing on God as 'Abba' - daddy - taking pride in his children) is a Caedmon's Call-esque acoustic shuffle. In truth, the songwriting quality varies also, but notable highpoints for me are the Stuart Townend-like modern hymn "Body Of Christ" with its cheekily pointed lyric "We are the answer to prayers that for years have been prayed/To get off our blessed assurance and go to the places they stay", and the delicate title track about lives transformed. Michael's voice is not particularly distinctive but this album still has plenty of good moments.

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