Reviewed by Greg Inglis

This album brings together nine contemporary worship songs reworked by gospel producer Nicky Brown who is also responsible for all instrumentation and programming. A quick glance at the credits informs us that Jerry Brown and Stephen Doherty were both involved on bass guitar and executive production respectively though the female vocalist featured on all the tracks remains anonymous. The songs are a mixture of the familiar and the lesser known here from the likes of the Tim Hughes penned "Light Of The World" and Martyn Layzell's "Lost In Wonder", versions which seem somewhat anaemic in comparison with the plethora of live and studio recordings around. The more obscure tracks work better such as the triumphantly uplifting "There Is A Higher Throne" and the beautiful "All I Have And All I Am (Build This House)" which features the opening couplet "All I have and all I am is yours/There's nothing that I have on earth that doesn't came from you/I lay aside my pride and worldly worth/To serve you is the greatest thing that I could do." Yet another Lou and Nathan Fellingham penned gem though like a lot of the recordings here there is a lack of real passion and vibrancy. Only on the closing "I Am Hard Pressed (Hard Pressed)" does the tempo kick up a gear or two with a pleasantly catchy pop/rock rendition. Anyone expecting worship with a real contemporary edge will be disappointed.

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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