Reviewed by Steve Hayes

Montell Fish from Pittsburgh here brings a creatively uplifting project. With synth sweeps, funky basses, jazzy and reverb laced electric guitar licks, mellow strings and soul searching lyrics laced with major seventh and flat fifth chords, this album is set apart from most releases. From the deeply personal "Smooth Song" calling out to God, Montell mixes spoken word, vocals and rap over mainly downtempo and laid back lyrics and music that wouldn't be out of place in a jazz club, with some of those jazzy chords and even some riffs ("UWJM"), despite the occasional tuning issues. Lyrically, the rapper is easily able to lay down some deep and thoughtful lines ("But my destiny arrived before I even was created" - "Theo's Hand") as well as varied vocal placements ("Dreams Don't Sleep"). If Hillsong's "Ocean" and "So Will I" are creative epics in the world of worship music, Montell lays down his own mini-epics in his own way, especially as the album rolls its way to an end. This album fuses two worlds making it hard to define. Is this a hip-hop project infused with spacey jazz? Or is it a spacey jazz project infused with hip-hop? Whatever the definition, the heart is Christ and Christ is at the heart. So slow down, stop, take a deep breath and listen well.

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.