Reviewed by Brendan O'Regan

There are so many singer/songwriters out there that it's hard for any of them to stand out from the crowd, but Tennessee-based Chris makes a fair stab at it with this six song EP. The lyrics are cleverly written and have a strong message while the tight backing makes subtle but effective use of guitar and keyboards. What shines out most however is McClarney's confidence in Jesus as he celebrates his relationship with the Lord - in more than one song the phrase "Thank you Jesus" rings out. That grateful faith in God is the constant, but there's plenty of variety in the music, from the rocking rhythm of "Across The Universe" to the reflective vibe of "Blessed Assurance" - the well known words of Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) set to new music by American McClarney and Brits Chris Eaton and John Hartley. McClarney has written or co-written all the other tracks, the best known of which is "Your Love Never Fails". The artist provides an interesting background to this song on the album sleeve (which also provides all the lyrics) - he tried it and shelved it, but it took on a life of its own after being recorded by Jesus Culture.

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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