Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

The title of German singer/songwriter Samuel Harfst's third album literally means 'Sound Diary' and this analogy explains the overall experimentalism and spontaneity of what is essentially a collection of worship songs. Harfst has chosen to employ his full band for this venture but enough space is left to make for an intriguing album that never becomes routine. The fact that the majority of the material on offer here is in Harfst's native tongue only adds to the diversity contained within and tracks like "Vom Sein" and "Naher Zu Dir" (which translate as "From His" and "Nearer To You" respectively) reflect God's glory as effectively as the English spoken "Adore Him" and "Always". Elsewhere, Harfst reflects on the trials of life and love in "Change Will Come" and "Stick With You" which betray a mature pop sensibility, not least thanks to the Chris Martin influence in Harfst's vocal performance and the excellent production skills of brother David and band member Timothy J Lucey. If you are looking for worship music that is varied and slightly left field, check out this promising artist's work.

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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