Reviewed by Sue Rann

This is a good album. It's not even what you could call 'patchy': if you like the first song, you'll be hooked to the last. The few faults in this work are small but annoying, and the chief among them is iffy lyrics. I don't mean lack of evangelistic content, because overt preaching evidently isn't what King's Road are about. I just get really irritated when lyrics promise much and then don't deliver. The ambiguous finale to "Everything I Need" is typical; it throws a wrench in the works and just darn well doesn't make sense. At the end of the day the most heart-piercing phrase is no good if it doesn't illuminate. Obscurity in and of itself is useless and a burden to those who have to listen to it. But the goodies outnumber the baddies here! The jangly guitar work, dobro, accordion, viola and cello all add 'crunch' to the smooth, professional slow rock texture, and Eve Marie Selis' voice is impressive. She has the hard-edged power sound of many rock matrons, but adds a country/folk loop to it for flexibility and a bluesy slur. The result is a well calculated sound, deep and throaty with no apparent weaknesses. She obviously operates better in the lower octaves and uses her voice carefully and with a waif-like touch in the uppers. Love and relationships is the theme. Human fallibility, breakdown of trust and the transcendence of a relationship in the sight of God; yes, it's all here and if it sounds ambitious or pretentious on paper, actually it's quite good in your ears! Highlights: "Nothing Without You", a steamroller of a ballad (yes, it really is both! Delicate and direct, purring and powering within bars of itself.); "Cry Of Love", with its folksy-country intro and Selis' voice driving to best effect; and "Love Won't Win", a thoughtful, aching ballad on the regrets of divorce. This is the first time I've encountered Kings Road. 'Where Angels Walk' makes me hope it's not the last!

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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