Reviewed by Mark Vyner

This album by a Sheffield-based singer/songwriter is a revelation from start to finish. All songs are written by Trefor, whose rich, gravelly voice is accompanied by acoustic guitars, harmonica, piano, accordion, cello, flute, bass, banjo. . .and the kitchen sink! The end result is an album of songs which not only grab you immediately but grow on you with repeated listening. Citing Dylan, Billy Bragg and Johnny Cash as influences, all these come through in the mix, which still comes through as original and engaging. The occasional bit of boogy woogy piano creeps through, as well as some impressive guitar-based blues and R&B with great harmonica thrown in. Given the Psalms are full of the blues it makes me wonder why there are so few Christian songwriters who do them well and who can pull off the kind of bitter sweet lyrics we find here - well, this is one! These are clearly songs borne out of experience of real life with all its pain and trials but always coming back to the fact that God "my sweet refuge" is close by. This album has not been out of my car CD player since receiving the review copy! I'll give the last word to one track "Sanctuary" - "Oh let me be your minstrel boy, let me be your seer/For I've got the fire and I've got the fear/Make me sing songs of bitterness, make me sing songs of woe/For they're sweet on my lips and I'm raring to go." A very impressive debut.

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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