Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Despite this being her first full album, Kate will be known to many already. Her delicious rendition of Kathryn Scott's "Falling On My Knees" was on 2000's 'Spring Harvest Praise Mix' album, while she actually played at Spring Harvest this year. Yet despite 'One Day' being distributed by Integrity Music Europe this isn't, with a couple of song exceptions, a praise and worship album in the sense that most people will recognise the phrase, ie, songs suited for congregational worship with simple, short lyrics we can all learn and join in with. No, Kate sings something else. Profoundly Christ-centred songs but ones so packed with images of the Godhead and personal reflections of her love for him that they demand complete listener focus and reward those who give it. Kate's voice is cool too, an exceptionally languid, jazz-tinged one, perfectly suited to the laid back shuffles and grooves producers Mark Edwards and Colin Walker have concocted for her. There is one congregational worship chorus here, Dave Fellingham's "I Love You My Lord", thoroughly reconditioned with a gospel chorus (including Tracey Riggan and Carla Hayles) and a meandering jazz sax, but mainly it's gentle, lyrical contempations of the comforting, power of Jesus ("I Will Comfort You"), with delicious classical guitar; the return of Christ ("Glory Day"), an epic 7.41 minutes long; or the creation and the Fall ("The Creation Song"). Not an immediate album, but one of luminous faith and musical intelligence.

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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