Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I know it's going to completely shred my rad Christian street cred but I have to say I've never liked Lies Damned Lies. I detested that big budget album they had out on Siren a few years back, detested their moves into avant guarde. I even detest their name. So when this album came up I wasn't exactly flinging myself across the room to slot it in the CD player. Now I stand before you brethren amazed and humbled. For this is a truly magnificent work, recorded live at St Silas Church, Glasgow on 2nd July and showing a mastery of composition and performance which leaves even a jaundiced listener like me breathless. Listen to the deft, haunting poignancy of Steve Butler's voice, dwell on those poetic images of tiny flats in winter, staring at the sea, hurting 'til we're healed, each one deftly encased in understated acoustic-based accompaniments. My current favourites are the breathtaking "Have Mercy" and the acappella version of Woody Guthrie's "Deportees" but the more I listen, the more I find. A brilliant album by a brilliant band.

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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