Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Cross Rhythms should have reviewed this when it came out in July 2017 but I'm glad we didn't. Sometimes albums or individual songs on them take time to creep up on the listener. And that's what's happened with 'Saved By Grace'. Chris Sayburn is a Manchester-based worshipper who has risen to prominence through the New Wine event. The majority of the songs here, as is the habit of many modern worship albums these days, are co-written and Mr Sayburn, Nick Herbert, Chris Lawton Jones and Ben Cantelon (the latter the album's producer) have done a good job on the mid-tempo anthemic opener "Spirit And Truth" while the haunting "Closer", written by Chris and Jonathan James, with its simple but evocative lines "My heart surrendered/I'm overcome/I'm sinking deeper into your love" perfectly expresses those moments when agape love surrounds the worshipper. Talking of lyrics, a much heard criticism of modern worship songs both from old hymn traditionalists and hipster critics is that the lyrics are theologically lightweight and/or lack poetic imagery other than a few overused Bible phrases. Such criticism has its merits but fails to note that worshippers don't always want or need the theological depth of a "Holy, Holy, Holy" or the enigmatic poetry of a "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)". Sometimes simple words of praise or adoration are enough. For instance, the song "Praise His Name Forever". A line from it gave the album its title. But in the cold light of day when printed on the CD booklet, the song's chorus reads like simplistic and clichéd doggerel. "Oh praise his name forever/Oh praise be to my saviour/Hallelujah, hallelujah/I've been saved by grace". But when wedded to a catchy melody the chorus is perfectly fine in expressing our thankfulness for the sublime gift of salvation. Musically, producer Cantelon has done a good job in presenting these songs in accessible pop rock arrangements (with the tracking taking place in Nashville), and Chris himself, if not possessing the most distinctive of voices, is able to handle both fast and slow songs. One final rave, the programming on "Up And Alive" is wonderful, with a ricocheting rhythm that if it could be replicated in a church would have the whole congregation up and dancing. Maybe that happened at New Wine.

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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