Reviewed by Brendan O'Regan

I first listened to this in the car without paying much attention to the sleevenotes, and boy was I surprised. First track, "Aaron's Blessing" was an unaccompanied song in Scots Gaelic, and I wasn't really in the mood for that kind of album. Then the second track "Jesus Stand Among Us" started with a catchy introduction of ukulele and double bass or cello, followed by fine voices and lyrics about the risen Lord which suited fine as I was listening around Easter. That was in English folk vein, vaguely reminiscent of Steeleye Span, but then the surprises kept on coming - next up was "All These Rivers", another original but very much American folk flavoured, with clear vocals and guitar and mandolin backing. And so it went. . . all reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those musical talents in the Northumbria Community. Many of the songs facilitate personal prayer, "My Soul Waits" being a particularly good example. Apart from the distinctive individual voices the choral work is excellent, shown off to good effect in "Enrich". If Eastern music is your thing the sitar sounds of "Monsoon" should please, or if your tastes run more in the pop/rock direction you'll like "Thank You Lord", while "Forever Grateful" also takes up the gratitude theme. My favourite track was the soft and beautiful "I Make The Cross Of Christ", a bedtime song based on an old Scottish prayer. As might be expected some songs and some vocals are not as strong as others, but all in all this collection wins out for its variety and commitment.

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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