Reviewed by Stella Redburn

Jules is a veteran New Zealand-based singer, songwriter and world touring troubadour who down the years has been much heard on his home land's Christian radio. Our man wrote a book Brokenheart, based around the 15 songs on this 2010 double album which have, in themselves, a beautiful emotional shape as Jules details his 2005 breakdown, leading through to hope, restoration and worship at the end of the album. It's powerful stuff and intensely personal and moving. All the opening tracks are very dark but glimpses of the light begin to show through. "Masks" has two parts; firstly brutal self-revelation then Naomi Browne takes over the vocals for the Lord's response. There is a stage-full of accomplished musicians supporting sensitively, eg, Sarah Poppe's violin in "Dark Secrets" or Alistair Greenwood's passionate evocative flute in "Wilderness". Nigel Gavin plays both acoustic guitar and his Fender Stratocaster superbly and a bevy of female vocalists add grace. The title track describes the End Times with dramatic intensity and leads us into praise in the catchy "In Your Presence".

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