Soaking In The Spirit: Let Go & Let God by Nick Battle

Reviewed by Simon Redfern

Nick Battle has been in and around the music business for a great many years on many sides amongst which are bass player with After The Fire, songwriter for Cliff Richard and A&R man, working alongside some very big names in the industry (The Spice Girls and Simon Cowell to name but two). This CD released only last month has received recommendations from well respected names such as Mark Stibbe and J John. With all this behind it, I expected great things. One thing you can say about the content of this CD is that the music is very relaxing - so much so that on first hearing I fell asleep, but it was quite late in the day! It did remind me of those relaxation CDs you find playing in craft shops, but it is way above that league and thankfully minus animal noises. The songs are a mix of acoustic guitar and piano driven "chillout" type tracks or background music, doing a great job of creating an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility which is a great tool to help lead you into intimate worship which is what this CD is all about. In the hectic world we're in today that can sometimes be a very tough job. There is the occasional sprinkling of vocal harmony ("Walking In His Footsteps" for example) and although rare, it is used very effectively. Musicianship and production are what you would expect from a musician with such an impressive track record in music, ie, polished and played with considerable technique. What I did find though was that one track tended to blend into the next with very little to distinguish one from the other, so you're not going to find 'Let Go & Let God' exactly groundbreaking. But a great CD to invest in though for those seeking quiet moments with God.