Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Iona drummer-cum-violinist Frank van Essen has teamed up with his singer wife and fellow Netherlander Marlou to deliver a colourful and diverse album of songs born mostly out of times of worship. Whilst contributions from Iona members past and present Dave Bainbridge (keyboards, guitars ), bassist Phil Barker and pipes man Troy Donockley inevitably give an Iona-sounding tinge to proceedings, the van Essens' work succeeds in being more than just a copycat release and has a life and vibrancy all of its own. Betraying an innate ability to turn bible passages into memorable songs, Celtic exposés such as "I Will Awaken The Dawn" (1 Thessalonians 5) and "All Men Are Grass" (1 Peter 1) showcase Marlou's strikingly characteristic voice as well as some stellar turns from Donockley whilst her husband flexes his substantial vocal muscles in the 1 Corinthians 13 adaptation "Love". Elsewhere, the couple expertly cover topics such as spirit-filled marriage and female persecution in "Now" and "Daughters Of Eve" respectively whilst offering up songs of longing for their God in the likes of the worshipful "I Want To Know You Deeper". The thumping "Arise, O God" sees Frank in his percussive element whilst the Dutch-sung "Psalm" closes an intriguing and frequently brilliant album from this talented pair.

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