Reviewed by Tony Cummings

This album is the CD version of a multi-media production, Love Reaches Out being presented at St.John’s Parish Church, West Ealing, and really represents the culmination of a long musical pilgrimage for one of Britain’s most underrated musical talents, Donnie McRobbie. On the strength of these recordings, the Love Reaches Out musical has the potential to impact a lot of people, for the songs presented here are hook laden pop items with lyrics which probe the human condition, our desire for love and spiritual reality, while nimbly avoiding swathes of Bible quotations and religious clichés. In fact Mr. McRobbie has a nice turn in powerful imagery, like on the title track (“Out of the dark, out from the deep/Suddenly a shaft of light/Radiant power, piercingly bright/Streaming out from the void”), or the breathtaking ballad “All In The Name Of Love” examining the abuse of the love word (“Love lies crumpled/Like the sheets on your bed/Discarded promises/The vows that you said”). I’ve long admired this song since it first emerged on a Beyond The Blue EP in 1995, and it still hits home. The vocals on this set by Germany-based singer Lisa Shaw, that hauntingly voiced CCM talent Jenny Legg, and half of Shattock & Rust, Geoff Shattock, are all top rate. All in all, an excellent album even for those who may not get to see the production.

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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