Reviewed by Tony Cummings

As long as I've been reading Christian magazines I've been encountering earnest articles, usually from reverends, decrying the woeful lack of modern hymns before going on to attack what the writers felt was the theological shallowness of contemporary choruses. In the light of this release, I hope the good reverends will now stop their carping and belatedly recognise that in Ireland's Keith Getty and England's Stuart Townend we have two writers able to pen hymns every bit as rich, memorable and brimming with theological content as the giants of the past. Some of the 12 hymns presented here, like "On To See The Dawn (The Power Of The Cross)" and "In Christ Alone" are already being sung in large numbers of churches across the world while others, like the plaintive acknowledgement of sin "Merciful God", the Spirit illuminating Christ in a believer's heart "Holy Spirit" or the modern Christmas carol "Joy Has Dawned", will surely join them in tens of thousands of acts of worship. What takes this album up to the next level is that rather than recording them with an organ and an enthusiastic congregation, Messrs Getty and Townend have turned their hymns over to producer John Hartley who's assembled a deft band of Nashville musicians and singers both famous (Susan Ashton, Tim Hughes, Christine Dente and Brenton Brown) and obscure (the mysterious "JP"). The most radio-friendly tracks (and how often do you hear that about a hymns album?) are "Jesus Is Lord" sung by Sarah Sadler, "See What A Morning" by JP and Derri Daugherty's rendition of "Lord We Wait". A groundbreaking album to remind Christians that we mustn't ignore the riches of hymnody.

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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