Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Brad is from Ontario, Canada, and has so far released three projects, a children's album, an EP of piano instrumentals and this one, issued in 2013. Scanning the tracklisting I felt a certain reluctance to play it. Titles like "I Want To See You Move" and "I Want To Be Like Jesus" made me apprehensive that I was about to hear more of those bless me, bless me songs that today seem to flood from the worshipping Church. Once I started to play it there were indeed a few problems. Musically I wouldn't call Brad a top rate singer - he hits all the notes but his lack of vibrato and a tendency to make the majority of his songs slow or mid-tempo with simple piano and synth wash accompaniments mean his songs blur one into another. But having said all that there is some quality material here - Brad's song about the Church "A House Is Growing Strong" is good; the haunting opener "I Want To See You Move" even better and the prayerful pleas of his lyrics often contain a heartening concern for others and in one instance a plea to be made humble. So 'Overwhelm Us', despite its deficiencies, did manage to touch my heart.

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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