Reviewed by Brendan O'Regan

Light some candles, turn down the lights and put yourself in the presence of the Lord. These musical meditations, reminiscent at times of Ludovico Einaudi, make an ideal background for quiet time with reflective prayer. As the sleevenotes suggest the dominant theme is the "very presence of the King". The melodies may not be that memorable, and the arrangements are rather sparse, but at least they won't distract from prayer. They are pleasant and appealing without being particularly striking and both players are obviously very accomplished. While some of the instrumentals were apparently spontaneous to a large degree, I particularly liked the well-crafted songs. Sarah Clay's vocals are clear, reflective and intimate, suitable for quiet prayer. "Dwelling Place" is the best of the songs, but "Wind Of The Spirit", the longest track at over 16 minutes, is quite distinctive with its intermittent vocals and long instrumental passages. Breath and spirit are prominent motifs, with the flutes and the occasionally whispering quality of the singing enhancing the effect. A lyric sheet would have been helpful, but the sparse introductory notes about the album concept are interesting.

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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