Reviewed by Jonathan Harris

Chattanooga's Matt (Macaulay) and Micah (Joy) have delivered this five track release and from the first few bars of this EP, I knew that this was going to be good. Main songwriter Matt's gentle vocals set the scene for Micah's celestial voice to unlock the listener's heart strings. This is a delightful collection of songs blended with truth and vulnerability, delectable harmonies and topped with refrains which will make worship leaders pick up their guitars and take notice. The duo explain that this collection of five songs was written from a realisation of "an exchange of brokenness, barrenness, mourning, grieving, abandonment and captivity, [which] leads ultimately to freedom, beauty, strength, fruitfulness, joy, praise.". This is beautifully captured in the title song ("The gales have swept/The drought has parched this land/This life, these hands, this heart" ending with the words "Though I walk through the fire, I will not be burned/You are strong and able"). I look forward to hearing more in the future from this exceptionally gifted duo.

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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