Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

I stumbled across Aaron Everitt when I was in America and the good natured singer/songwriter tracked me down to give me a copy of this album. I have to admit that I thought any band named Maskil had to be either heavy metal or a prog rock band but instead what you get is a rather delightful rootsy folk hybrid which is in the same ballpark as Waterdeep, Bebo Norman and Ten Shekel Shirt. Fittingly Maskil is the Hebrew word for contemplative psalm and Everitt's songwriting and the band's arrangements combine to make music that washes over the listener and provokes many emotions and thoughts. I love "Aviand" which is packed with gentle vibes whilst the oh too short instrumental "Bighorn Mountains" shows that the band can enjoy a bit of a groove. Another highlight for me is their version of "Psalm 139" which is melodic and yet incorporates an edge that matches the content of the psalm. Strongly acoustic and yet full of gutsy moments, the band create musical and emotional peaks and troughs throughout the album and the result is an incredible experience. If you're looking for something real, an album with the capacity to move your soul again and again and music which is miles away from the plastic pop of Nashville, Maskil fit the bill.

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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