Reviewed by Trevor Kirk I must admit that I was looking forward to listening to this one, as Robin's previous Hosanna! album 'Revival In Belfast' was one of my favourite praise and worship CDs of the last few years. This time, Robin and his merry band (featuring veteran Nashville sessioners Blair Masters and Jerry McPherson and our own Dave Clifton) have left Belfast and set up shop in what is generally regarded as one of the holiest sites in all Ireland, St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh City, where the saint established his missionary base in the fifth century. I don't know what yer man would've made of the music on this album but I loved it! Track one is the traditional Irish reel "Mulhaires", track two is the classic "Take Us To The River", with a punchy, rocky arrangement, and the rest is a mix of Robin's own material (six, five of which are new), and songs by Chris Tomlin (a romping version of Chris' recent UCB Europe chart hit "Forever"), Reuben Morgan (the Hillsongs opus "What The Lord Has Done In Me", nicely freshened up by a few whistles and other Celtic things), Lynn DeShazo and Steve Merkel. Production quality is first class (for once, post-production overdubs of backing vocals, guitars and strings don't over-egg the pudding and create an artificial brilliance); the song list is a strong one (my favourite, one of Mr Mark's new ones, "Come Heal This Land", full of Uillean pipes and whistles and Celtic ambience); all the players and singers are on top form and the whole thing is a worthy follow up to 'Revival..'. Heartily recommended.
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Sample Track Listing: |
1. |
Mulhaires, Traditional Irish Reel |
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