Reviewed by Chris Tozer

Here's an amazing collection of home grown praise and worship songs that would make an ideal Christmas present for anyone who is still living in the '60s. Terry Gallagher and Leo Steenbergen clearly have the knack of crafting a set of catchy Merseybeat melodies. Had they been written way back in 1963 there would have been a distinct possibility that some beat group such the Four Pennies or the Fourmost would have found that they had a hit parade success on their hands. Yet the lyrics are very much grounded in the language of '80s worship songs. Most of them have a familiar ring about them. The men from Blackburn were obviously determined cram more charismatic clichés into a song than I would have felt was advisable. They are also guilty of some delightfully mixed metaphors. After asking God to melt their hearts, in the next breath they calmly expect him to kindle their fire with his love. Yet none of these quibbles mar what is definitely an enjoyable album. They have made good use of the ubiquitous synth to bring a touch of charm and originality to each track. As private recordings go, the production is pretty impressive.

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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