Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Sheffield singer/songwriter Philippa Hanna's career is most definitely on a high at the moment and, together with her tours with Leona Lewis, Anastasia and now Little Mix, her latest album, recorded in Nashville, does her move from CCM starlet to fully-fledged mainstream artist no harm whatsoever. Refreshingly, Hanna resists the temptation to throw the baby out with the bathwater in terms of singing about her relationship with God and this release expertly deals with matters of faith and the challenges of life in a relevant, inspiring and accessible way that will continue to satisfy her existing Christian fan base whilst hopefully attracting and encouraging new listeners from outside church doors. Musically, Hanna and her production team have gone for an electronic, dance-tinged approach and, whilst tracks like the single "Arrow" is somewhat reminiscent of the Katy Perry smash "Roar", there is enough originality and innovation to make this a stand out release. Vocally, Hanna has never sounded better with powerful performances being delivered with ease on the likes of the high octane opener "Let You Lead" and the slow burner "Even Now" whilst she turns in an intimate vocal when needed on quieter tracks such as the contemplative "Something Better". A cameo from dcTalk's Kevin Max on the stunning "Embers" rounds off this exemplary release.

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.