Reviewed by James Yelland

Florida-based Gilley's debut release sets out its stall boldly, aiming to marry contemporary, relevant style and approach with distinctly counter-cultural lyrics and themes. Largely he succeeds, as this is an infectious album with a strong mix of catchy tracks, a 10 track selection which can comfortably stand with much of the music in today's charts. This is solid pop music, with a fair smattering of hip-hop, rap, techno/dubstep and R&B influences, as well as worshipful lyrics and refrains threaded throughout effectively. Adam neatly channels that brand of upbeat pop which brings to mind artists such as JLS, David Guetta and others. Whereas those artists' lyrics inevitably obsess on small things, Adam's lyrics look towards a life lived for God, pointing us back towards him in the face of a culture that leads us away. It's not all seriousness though as there is a clear sense of humour showing through. Along with several collaborators, Adam has self-produced this release and his sound and mix abilities speak highly of his multi-tasking skills.

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.