Reviewed by Tom Lennie

This is a live double album from a now familiar name in American worship. Combining a variety of styles such as gospel, funk, pop, Latin and inspirational ballad, the album comes in two modes. The first disc is largely uplifting, upbeat praise, containing mainly new songs composed by Houghton and various colleagues, most notably Michael Gungor and percussion programmer and keyboard player extraordinaire, Aaron Lindsey. The warm group vocals provide a rich feel, particularly on tracks like the celbratory, Calypso "All Around", which infectiously invites participation. I'm less keen, though, on the rather staid victory chant of "I Hear The Sound". Jesus as friend is the definite theme of the last track on the disc and the first four on disc 2, each of which, like nearly all of the second CD, float along in very still and tender fashion. Most prominent of tracks on this 'level' are the Kent Henry's beautiful "Awesome In This Place" and the most restrained version of "Here I Am To Worship" that I know. Moving stuff, highly engaging, and just when your spirit is in worshipful bliss, the disc closes with a triumphant stomp in the title track, another prominent theme of this venture. All in all, fine stuff, proficiently rendered and worth taking note of.

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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