Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

This, the third offering from Auckland's power praisers, is another slab of excellent worship music. The mix is as before, a tight band, well-crafted songs with an absence of hackneyed lyrics and banal tunes, singers and soloists who give it everything, and enthusiasm and passion by the truckload. It's tempting to describe Libby Huirua as New Zealand's Darlene Zschech, and her husband Wayne as a Russell Fragar or a Geoff Bullock - one of the penalties of having such a class act as Hillsongs just the other side of the Tasman Sea - but such comparisons are unnecessary, apart from the obvious one that all are very accomplished songwriters. Yes, the sound isn't as polished as Hillsongs, but The Parachute Band can hold their heads up in the best company. Wayne and Libby's opener "Give It Up", is a funky gospel-tinged opus; track two "Praise Him" carries on where track one leaves off. and by the end of track 12, over 57 minutes after the opening applause, there was no doubt in this listener's mind that here is one happening outfit. Apart from the first two, I also love the title track, a mid tempo number with a fairly gentle verse and an anthemic chorus "I've got to worship you my God/I can't contain the way I feel/I dance free before you Lord for it's you that I adore." Sheer poetry. A must-have album that gels better every lime I hear it.

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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