Reviewed by Allan Clare

The title track from this Scottish singer/songwriter with a plinkety plonk piano, sweeping violins and memorable melody is a gem. It's deceptively easy on the ear but this is an album full of strong hooks and melodies, professional musicianship and a very good Andy Williams-style easy listening voice in Russell (a trained singing instructor). Lyrically, the album is full of thanks and praise to God and tender love songs. Typical of the love songs is the track "Everything" - ("When I think of all we've shared/I know no other could have cared/And risked to love the way you dared.") Wordsworth it isn't but it IS a memorable melody well sung and well produced. That might sound rather vague - the album is not pushing back any boundaries but nor is it striving to. The arrangements and production are subtle, not over the top - in other words, this is middle of the road heaven! "Your Grace Is All I Need" is another sweeping violin ballad whose melody has been in my head for days. Russell knows how to craft a song (he nearly won the Christian/Faith category of the UK Songwriting Contest) and this is an album that any fan of Burt Bacharach, The Carpenters or Andy Williams would enjoy.

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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