Reviewed by Ian Hayter

Worship compilations are a pretty common phenomenon these days and often they seem to be event-based (such as the Spring Harvest or Soul Survivor series) or thematic, as is this one. Here we have 50 songs grouped under the general heading of 'Reverence And Thanksgiving'. As those seem to be aspects of a great majority of worship songs, that gives the compilers a fairly free rein to choose what they want. One of the good things about this collection, though, is that many of the songs are by the original artists - although yet again there is a lack of any kind of performer credits on the sleeve. The selection opens with Viola Grafstrom's "We Bow Down" and includes tracks by Matt Redman ("Even Though I Walk", "Befriended", "The Father's Song"), Tim Hughes ("Light Of The World"), Geoffrey Birtill ("When I Look At The Blood", Purify My Imagination") and Paul Oakley ("Astounded By The Mystery", "You Have Loved Me", "We Have Prayed") amongst others. There are veteran worship leaders such as Chris Bowater and Sue Rinaldi, and newer performers such as Lou Fellingham and Lara Martin, with the oldest track being the aforementioned "We Bow Down" from 1996 and several very recent compositions, such as Joanne Hogg's "Forgive Me (Song of Confession)" from 2008. It's a very listenable set and if you're short of worship compilation albums, well worth getting hold of - you certainly get a lot of music for your money.

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