Reviewed by Peter Dilley

Describing themselves as the house band for the Soul Café at St Paul's Church in Derby, One Big Sky brings back together four members of its precursor The Harbour Lights, who had to wind down in Autumn 2007. Very capably fronted by new girl Joanne Carlier, the line-up also includes guitarist and songwriter Phil Baggaley, half of 1980s acoustic duo Phil & John (and many projects since). With an easy-going delivery, possibly reminiscent of The Beautiful South, there's a real sense of joie de vivre in much of the music. That's perhaps best encapsulated in "1985", a song which draws on memories of first joining a band and playing guitar: "Do you remember late September 1985? They were days that shaped our history, it was good to be alive." Opener "Smiling Down" feels similarly positive, and brimming with feel-good metaphors "What Love Can Do" celebrates the transforming power of love. By way of a contrast, "Lost Things" is more sombre in mood, but no less full of hope: "I've been looking, looking for the lost things, things that have been broken over time.searching for the missing, for the long-forgotten and the left-behind," reaching out in love and reassurance "to let you know that it's all right, offer you a hand full of life." Just four songs here and one is left definitely wanting more.

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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