Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

After two accomplished albums as a solo project headed up by Salford-based singer/songwriter and producer Jonathan Ogden, the Rivers & Robots project has now morphed into a fully-fledged band with their third release. Thankfully, several factors from the solo days remain intact with Ogden's quietly inventive songwriting and wistful vocal delivery coming as standard as well as his ability to offer up an innately worshipful piece of work that refreshingly doesn't sound at all like worship music. The gently triumphant "We Have Overcome" kicks things off and sets the scene for an album that celebrates salvation through Christ whilst the likes of "You Hear Me" and "Shepherd Of My Soul" tell of Ogden's reliance on God without ever falling into the trap of being offputtingly introspective. The benefit of the band incarnation of Rivers & Robots becomes clear with Kelani Koyejo driving more upbeat numbers such as "Perfect Love" from the drum stool with the help of some lovely bass runs from Nathan Stirling and a number of subtly great moments throughout from lead guitarist David Hailes - all of which add power and colour to Ogden's assured delivery. The nature/technology juxtaposition of the band's moniker is honoured in songs such as the acoustic "White As Snow" which makes way for the more experimental and electronic "Fall Down" to reflect the successful melding of analogue and digital elements that makes this album stand out from the rest. Elsewhere, the sublime "In The Family" - delightfully reminiscent of Brian Wilson at his "Surf's Up" best - and the stunningly atmospheric final track "Voice That Stills The Raging Sea" round off an exemplary release from Ogden and crew.

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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