Reviewed by Tony Cummings

In retrospect, Andy’s previous album ‘Invisible’ was just a tad too introspective and singer/songwriter-orientated to make a major impact. ‘Son’ though is much more accessible as this most intelligent of songsmiths takes us through a set of lyrically wide-ranging songs aided by crisp inventive production from Trevor Michael. There are tender-hearted worship songs like “All I Am”, “Stop” with its challenging call to stay long enough among the broken and hurting to be able to become the hands and feet of Jesus, and a wonderful evocation of the Prodigal Son story “Open Arms” written from the perspective of the son who didn’t go off to blow his inheritance but stayed and worked for his father. The playing throughout is exemplary with Karen Bousfield’s violin, Dan Wheeler’s rock’n’roll guitars, Bernie Gardner’s percussion and Matt Week’s bass all adding rhythmic texture to the set. A creative triumph from the versatile Mr Flannagan.

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