Reviewed by Rebecca Hulcoop

"Quiet moments of musical reflection," reads the album subhead. AAAGH! was my first reaction! However, I was pleasantly surprised as this is a refreshing musical experience which exudes originality. If, like me, you have never heard of pianist Johan Heystek, composer and performer of the melodies on this album, then I am afraid that you won't find the information on the cover of any use as there isn't any! It simply tells you that this album was recorded at Maranatha Studios in Pretoria, South Africa and that Johan Heystek is also the producer of this album. There are no musical cliches on this album and the tunes are both stirring and strangely haunting. At times it even sounds as though it could be the soundtrack to an old black and white film! However, throughout it all the deep sense of God's peace and presence is conveyed, with tracks such as "Enfold Me" and "No Other God". The very last piece on this album, "Rejoice", adds to the also very joyful mood which is expressed here. It is very difficult to find fault with this album as Johan's playing is excellent and it is a thoroughly professional recording. A refreshingly peaceful listen which can be summarised by words from the album cover itself, "...the perfect backdrop for all the quiet moments in your life."

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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