Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

If you're new to their music what you need to know is that John plays guitar and Simeon blows things - mainly flutes. This duo's sixth album features 12 new instrumental pieces designed to aid meditation and private prayer. Built around the theme of the mystery and beauty of God's world, only the opening title piece really conveys a sense of mystery. It is excellent! As for the rest, it is possible to get really frustrated at the sameness of it all. These are fine musicians, a guitar plays, a flute floats in and out, a lyrical violin sweeps past or a harp plays in the background. It's all very beautiful, well composes, excellently played but ahem...a bit boring. Then I twigged! This is music to soothe the soul. I changed tack, this isn't music to "listen to", it's music to have on while you do something else, spiritual or not. Listened to under those conditions and this is excellent unobtrusive mood enhancing, undemanding, relaxing music. Stick it on in the background while friends visit, calm your dog with it, play it while you write your journal, relieve your stress with it. But don't listen too carefully because you might notice that when they go too far from the basics you get fake harpsichord, fake strings, etc which spoil things a tad.

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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