Reviewed by David Faulkner

Search the Cross Rhythms site and you'll find plenty of positive reviews for Phil Lewis. And this reviewer agrees with his colleagues. Lewis knows just how to put together a hooky pop song with interesting chord changes, atmospheric keyboards and rocking guitar solos that owe a little bit to The Edge circa "New Year's Day" and other early/mid-'80s classics. Does that make it dated? You could say so, but good songwriting and performance are surely never out of vogue. Old styles are always present as influences in current music, and Lewis makes a virtue of that. Here he uses "SAD" (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and winter as metaphors for the Pauline teaching that we may have hope, even in dark times. B-side "Shine" is less immediate - my first reaction was that I was waiting for more of a big chorus once the title line was delivered, but none came. However, it is a grower. It's too late to help Lewis in his push for chart success with this release, because it came out in early February and I'm writing this a month later. However, it's never too late to support a classy artist. If you want to dip your toes into Phil Lewis' music, then this release is a safe bet in uncertain times.

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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