Reviewed by Paul Kerslake

Rochester, New York-based singer/songwriter Drew releases this, his sixth album, and with its rich acoustic driven arrangements, embellished with various other stringed instruments, subtle percussion and woodwind and cleverly honed songs, this is clearly an album by a skilled songsmith. The opening track "What Colour Am I" explores racism and equality from a white man's perspective with the great line "I wanna be the colour of God/When others return to anger let my heart return to love." Jim's ability to write God focussed lyrics without resorting to evangelical cliché is impressive. "Mystery's Gaze" talks about truth; "A truth is not a lie/A doubt is not a truth" with the closing line "but the truth is in the end/We will see him face to face." Throughout the album Jim's guitar and voice remain at the centre of the mix, he is an accomplished guitarist and an expressive singer. This is an album that grows on you, on first play everything sounds a bit similar (as can often be the case with acoustic albums). Repeated listens reveal the subtleties and also give chance to absorb the lyrics, which as mentioned before are never less than well crafted. A fine album.

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