Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

Jonathan is a singer/songwriter based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and he's written or co-written everything on this 11 track, 48 minute CD, and it's piano-driven slow balladry, exclusively so, the only variations being strings and guitars on a few tracks. Now some people can get away with a whole CD where every song sounds the same (the late American soul giant Barry White made a virtue of it). But when the avowed aim of the album is (to quote the covering letter) "to be used as a tool for glorifying God and reaching the nations," then I have to say that I'm not sure whether this can cut it. Jonathan's voice, whilst pleasant and easy to listen to in the main, occasionally wanders away from the melody, and it's difficult to assess his range and power as the material is so undemanding. Perhaps he should set himself a challenge and either write something that has a few musical teeth, or find someone who will. Meantime, I can't quibble with the lyrical content, so if this sort of music is your scene, you might like to check it out.

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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