Reviewed by Andy Long

Velvet-voiced singer/songwriter Andrew Buckton gathered an impressive set of musicians around him for this album. Ex-Iona man Mike Haughton brought his saxes and flutes, Steve Lawson (Chris Bowater) brought his gorgeous Modulus basses and Harry Napier (Martyn Joseph) squeezed in with his cello. Andrew's songs have a beautifully gentle and worshipful nature and the input of great musicians really lifts 'Now But Not Yet' to a tier above many albums of a similar ilk. The opening chords of the first song, "Do I Know You", set the mood perfectly for the album, simply picked out by keyboardist and producer Jez Carr, with Harry's cello sitting subtly underneath. Andrew's lyrics speak sensitively of servanthood and of wonder. "Sensing The Absence" is a searchingly honest song that expresses a place that we have all been to, whilst "Remember Heaven" reveals the heart of an awe-struck worshipper. "When The Silence" proves that he can write a catchy chorus too. A truly stirring album.

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