Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

They've released eight independent projects, some of which have featured on my Independents' Day programme on Cross Rhythms, but now comes their first worldwide release - and what a stonker! I saw this band play live in Nashville early last year and since then I've been salivating with expectancy for this release. It's been worth the wait! This is such a brilliant album! The nucleus of the band is two married couples with Don and Lori Chaffer playing guitar and sharing lead vocals whilst Brandon and Christina Graves play drums and key­boards and Kenny Carter plays bass. That's the personnel but what do they sound like? Rootsy rock'n'roll with piles of commitment and loads of talent. The songwriting isn't afraid to deal with brokenness, difficulty and the realities of life whilst at the same time breathing plenty of hope. "Wicked Web", "He Will Come" and "Confessions Of A Broken Down Man" are the best illustrations of the louder side of this album where the band step into edgy territory. At the other extreme, "Everyone's Beautiful", "Psalm 131" and "Go Find John" open up a delicate side to the band's writing and performing whilst maintaining an over­all quirkiness which adds to the band's strong sense of cool! One song "Sweet River Roll" has the capacity to make me cry every time I hear it because of its mood and lyrical content! Have to confess I am deeply emotionally involved with this album but so will you be when you hear it! ff you like real instruments, real vibe and plenty of edge, file it in the same territory as Maria McKee, VOL and perhaps Sixpence. Waterdeep are an incredible band and this is an incredi­ble album. The best thing I've heard in the last couple of months!

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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