Reviewed by John Daniels

A very useful showcase, reflecting the thriving Australian Christian music scene. As with any such album the style varies considerably across the 16 tracks, and so defies categorisation, but as a showpiece for "the best", the standards of writing and production are generally very high. With so many artists from Australia now part of the CCM scene worldwide, I looked for familiar names, but didn't see any, except one. It couldn't be the man who kept Ultravox at the top of the charts in 1981, with what has been voted the "worst ever No 1", could it? But "Shaddap You Face", it is, the same Joe Dolce, who here gives another quirky performance, as winner of the Best Folk Gospel Song, with "Hill Of Death", based on a poem written in the 1800s. I was going to say worth the price of the album alone, although at just over two minutes that's arguable. This album of contrasts has something for everyone, the smooth worship of Undivided Heart's "Gentle Whisper", pop gospel evangelism from Trina & Stacey on "Give It All Up", the country flavour of Gavin Chatelier's "Rainbow Promise", the youthful stand taken on "Rebel" by Shisha Ashby (a rebel with a cause), and hard though it is for a rock fan to admit even Dean Perrett's bluegrass gospel "Hold On To Jesus" has that something.

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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