Reviewed by Stella Redburn

Twila Paris needs no introduction. She recorded her first album in 1981 and has, down the years, enjoyed 33 number one Christian radio hits and sold over 1.3 million albums. Many of Twila's earlier songs have become well known contemporary hymns, such "He Is Exalted" and "Lamb Of God". This album is a compilation she has made featuring 11 songs from her previous albums and two new recordings. She has a deft touch with songwriting, with her simple yet emotional lyrics and her strong tunes. Her voice is what everyone remembers - crystal clear and charged with intensity, and she has that special and rare ability to make an audience hang on her every word. When she is there, you forget anyone else is on stage. "God Is In Control" is probably the best known song on this album and still sounds great today while I'm a particular fan of "The Warrior Is A Child" with it's touching admission of weakness. Her two new recordings shed an interesting light on her political preoccupations. She has chosen to sing two 19th century patriotic American hymns that both speak of God being very much in control of the nation: "God Of Our Fathers" and "America The Beautiful". We Brits might find such unashamed patriotism slightly OTT but there is no doubting Twila's passion and gifting.

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.