Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The church doesn't care for satirists. Look at the incomprehension and even hostility that greeted much of Steve Taylor's work. And Marc Catley, the extremely talented acoustic music man with a not undeserved reputation for outspokenness, is really taking the golden cow by the horns by lampooning...(gasp)...praise and worship music. In his accompanying letter Marc explains that 'at one level 'The Peel Of Hope1 is entertainment and so clergy, worship leaders, musicians and others will find plenty to chuckle about. In addition the serious intent behind it is a call for higher standards in worship and art and a call for a true understanding of how the Spirit works in creativity." It is on first listen very funny. The opener "Jesus Is Ace" wickedly caricatures all those banal choruses we've been tortured with down the years while with titles like "Forward Masking", "My Guardian Angel Drives A White Sierra" and "Lord I Really Just Want Lord To Praise You Lord Just As I Really Am Right Now Lord" you've got an insightful commentator going for the jugular. Whether the point and the humour sustains itself through an album's length is another point. But if you want to stir up a hornet's nest, buy this for your worship leader.

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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