Reviewed by Tony Cummings

When lead singer John James left and the band decided to take over the pro­duction chair from the brilliant Steve Taylor, many predicted that the team would tumble from their huge US popularity. In fact 'Step Up To The Microphone' pro­duced four US Christian radio number one hits. Now the band are back with their eighth set and it's a fine one, playing to all the band's strengths, hooky choruses, some biting guitar rhythms and a sound that is made for maximum pop radio plays. The title track does indeed have some disco elements, like that Chic-like guitar rhythm and a fussy string arrangement, without ever being a dance floor opus. And "Good Stuff", with a decidedly funky groove, even features a bit of scratching to lend bite to a modern rock cut. But it's the Bealle-esque ballad "Beautiful Sound" which is the stone killer on this set, a haunting song exploring the paradoxes of a faith where "to have found you and still be looking for you" yet leaves us with a determination "to be chasing you like you were chasing me." The band apparently went into the studio with a staggering 40 songs, so not surprisingly the ones that made it to this set are all strong. Clearly the Australian/US pop rockers have more sanctified hits to give us.

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