Reviewed by Darren Matthews

An established songwriter best known for gospel hits "Incredible God" and "Praise Him In Advance", Deon Kipping and his group New Covenant offer a modern take on the call and response tradition of gospel. Deon has a richly soulful voice ably supported by his tight vocal ensemble with an approach that strikes the right balance between energetic and intimate. I especially liked the sections where the band pulls back to showcase the sweeter-than-honey vocal interplay between Deon and New Covenant. Accompanied by a groove-generating band, Deon seamlessly blends together modern and traditional styles. Lyrically it's okay though hardly groundbreaking, the only niggle coming in the penultimate track "So Addicted" where the listener is encouraged to replace rehab programmes with addiction to God, perhaps a simplistic answer to a complex problem? Overall, Deon steps up to the mic to bring us a competent blend of old and new gospel sounds.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.