Reviewed by Sarah Mwangi

There's no mistaking the quality of production and arrangement on this album - as on any of Michael Card's offerings. I particularly like the sparkling acoustic guitar sounds that he always manages to produce. The orchestral backings are provided by London Strings conducted by Stan Xidas and are remarkably good arrangements (by Alan Moore) - in fact I might even go so far as to say the best I've heard on a contemporary recording. The songs, I'm afraid, are not something I could shout about. I'm left with the feeling that I've heard it all before and I'd rather not have to hear it again. It's a shame, because lyrically Michael Card is (and has been) always a step or three beyond every other offering in this genre. Most of these songs stick closely to the biblical narratives they are taken from - The story of Job in 'Job Suite', and miscellaneous psalms (13; 23 etc.) and there is a helpful/devotional explanation of Michael Card's perspectives on the passages he's built his songs around. Apart from this I can find nothing that enables me to note the album above a rather mediocre.

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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