Reviewed by Ronnie Payne

'Praise 18' is better than 'Praise 17', due in no small part to the glorious Kelly Willard who not only takes the lead vocal on four of the tracks but also shares the production credits as well as contributing as a songwriter. Kelly's voice carries with it the breath of heaven and if you have never heard her sing before then the album is worth getting just to experience the gentle refreshing power of the Spirit which seems to be released when she sings. This is not to imply that 'Praise 18' is a one-woman show for here she is ably assisted by the excellent Maranatha Singers and band which includes veteran session musicians Hadley Hockensmith and Harlan Rogers. The songs are intimate expressions of worship and benefit by a generous sprinkling of acoustic guitar (courtesy of Tom Hemby) suggesting they could go down well in a small group setting. Don't expect Maranatha to push back the boundaries of worship too far though - just sit back, relax, turn the volume down and soak in the presence of the one who inhabits the praises of his people (whatever side of the Atlantic they come from).

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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