Reviewed by Paddy Hudspith

Following his conversion in 1985, former Duran Duran/Limahl session drummer Marcos Lopez-Iglesias followed quite the 'long and winding road' in music ministry: stints at a recording studio in Italy, studying at Bible college in England, recruiting for the Continental Singers and worship leading in California, assisting global evangelist Nick ('Life Without Limbs') Vujicic and undertaking missionary work in Fiji. He "captures these rich experiences" on this first Christian CD (following 2007's mainstream 'Uncomplicated Cat' album). Lopez-Iglesias has a gently gritty rock voice, shades of Bebo Norman or Martyn Joseph, showcased before a slick, but generally uncomplicated, acoustic rock backdrop. A few tracks ("Heaven", "Walking In Love", a new take on "Psalm 23") meander past amiably but forgettably, but the album hits its heights when a few 'risks' are taken with the sounds. Multi-instrumentalist Chris Bleth adds different colours via duduk (on the Middle Eastern-flavoured "Forgive, Forget And Walk Free") and Native American flute ("Your Love Created It All"). Gospel legend Andrae Crouch lends his choir and arrangements on the anthemic title track. Most impressively, the irrepressible groove of "Faith Is The Key" (and its acoustic reprise at the close of the album) adds Jay Williams' jazz guitar and keyboardist Charles Jones' smooth, Crouch-like vocal riffs to outstanding effect. With more like this, the album could have been a stunner; as it is, a solid offering with some very good, and moving, moments.

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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