Reviewed by Philip Crawley

"..Christian music is catching up to the rest of the world, which he believes is necessary in order to get the message out to believers." So runs the text I blagged from Paul's website (http://www.baloche.com) and after the first few listens I know exactly what he means. I picked up loads of influences from Kevin Prosche and Delirious to The Counting Crows and The Gin Blossoms. It's all good guitar-based rock with enough slabs of Hammond (sounds like an old-school B3!) and harmonica to keep me in the mood, and prove that being in the Hosanna series needn't mean instant musical embarrassment when playing it at work. That's not to say that the lyrics are obscure or watered down - along with the Cutting Edge favourites "The Happy Song", "Lead Me, Oh Lead Me" and "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever" he includes nine other worship numbers of uncompromising power. It was all recorded live in Texas and you get the feel of a meeting that you wished you'd been at. It sounds like a live recording in the best sense with musicians and vocalists sounding great and really joining with the congregation in worship. If you enjoy gospel backing vocals they are here, but strangely none of the band or singers are credited in the sleeve notes - they definitely deserved to be! The first song "Rise Up And Praise Him" sets the standard for the whole album, and I for one will be plaguing my fellowship's worship leader with it (when I've worked out the chords!).

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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