Never for Nothing - CCM Record Reviews archive G
GABLE PRICE & FRIENDS : The Consequence of Being Alive. (Capitol CMG)
Hailing from the “wild, wild Midwest of the USA”, Gable Price is currently based in Redding, California. Showing considerable promise from an early age, his father evidently gave him a Gibson Les Paul on his 13th birthday, and asked him to be his Worship Leader Assistant at the Vineyard Church in Cincinnati. Now at Redding's Bethel Church, and with independent EPs and one album ('Fractioned Heart') behind him, Gable and his 'Friends' bring us their first signed release, on Capitol. The genre is alt rock/pop, many songs lyrically less overtly Christian than the earlier album, and with some love songs. This genre is a crowded field and the main aspect that makes Gable's work stand out is his fine way with words. These major on the honest and original, with the tracks mixed so that these can largely be heard well. Kicking off with the upbeat 'Upside', we're taken on an 11-track journey of largely similarly paced 'indy' drums and guitars-led ccm. 'I love to struggle' is a great example of Gable's abilities as a wordsmith, followed by the lyrically equally impressive 'Treason' – a cruel-to-be-kind 'time to get yourself out of this mindset' song (“Is it really heroic to be broken on purpose?”). 'Jesus Christ (hold me steady)' provides a contrast to the rest of the album. This is a personal prayer featuring predominantly solo vocal and acoustic guitar but with sympathetically added synth sounds towards the end. Standouts? Musically I think I would highlight 'How it sets you free' as it keeps staying in my head after listening. Lyrically it's a toss-up between the two previously mentioned. Downsides? A tough one to achieve, but as already hinted at, musically there is little here to distinguish Gable and his Friends from a lot of other alt rock output. Secondly (and apologies, I know it's a 'hobby horse' of mine) there's the sound – for whilst understandably mixed/mastered for mobile/radio consumption, other releases seem to be able to meet the same requirement whilst not exhibiting the distortion and lack of dynamics that prove a distraction on a more revealing sound system – check out recently reviewed John Elefante or Ashlyn Nicole examples. Overall then? 7/10. Dave Deeks (February 2023)
GABRIELA & SIMINA : I Want to Live for You. (Cd £12.99 from Tel: 01844 237916 or WWW.APPLETREESTUDIO.CO.UK
As featured on the front page of NFN a couple of months ago, Romanian
sisters, Gabriela and Simina have recently recorded their debut
UK Cd at Phil Goss' AppletreeStudio. The girls' broken English
doesn't hinder the enjoyment at all. Indeed, the listener is drawn
into the songs by their native tongue. The titles of the songs
are self explanatory. "Never Without You", "Come
To Me" and "Shine your Light" are all praises to
the Almighty. Likewise, "Let Us Exalt" follows suit
but is, perhaps, more powerful in presentation. A few songs are
sung in Romanian, and gentle "Esti Necuprns" sounds
very pretty. "Why Did you Give your Life", written by
Simina, asks the question of Jesus and prayerfully gives thanks.
Musically, we're looking at an easy listening album, with Phil
Goss' production complimenting the girls' songs perfectly. A work
colleague asked if I was listening to the Cheeky Girls. Thankfully,
there's whole lot more to these two girls. God Bless them both.
8/10. (January 2004)
GAITHER VOCAL BAND : Best of... (Gaither : 6189 8425692 0)
Another retrospective - there seems to be a few of those around at the moment. This one looks back over the 24 year history of the Gaither Vocal Band and includes 37 tracks recorded between 1993 and 2003. Whilst founder Bill Gaither has remained ever-present, the band has welcomed a variety of lineups over that 24 year period, including some big names from the world of American Christian music; Russ Taff, Steve Green and Jon Mohr to name just three. In spite of the ever-changing personnel, their sound has remained much the same, firmly rooted as it is in Southern Gospel, with a splash of blues and soul thrown in for good measure, and this collection is a fine showcase for an obviously hugely talented array of singers. However, it failed to really grab me or move me to worship in any significant way. The overall quality of the songs, the singers and the production is consistently top notch but by midway through the first disk (of two) it was all a little wearing - too much "sameness" for me - with only the occasional slower song, such as "A Brand New Song" or "Loving God, Loving Each Other" offering anything by way of a highlight. Don't misunderstand me, this album is well put together and musically superb, I just found it a little flat. If you are a big fan of Southern Gospel inspired vocal groups you will love it, if not, you probably won't. 6/10 David Cooper (April 2005)
GAITHER VOCAL BAND : Lovin' Life. (Gaither : SHD2748)
There's always a little in trepidation, when it comes to listening to any Gaither produced CD. Why? Well, history tells us that a lot of the music is just so "twee" and old fashioned, that it just doesn't sit well here in the UK. Still, someone's got to do it, so I summoned up all my resistance and put the album on. Now, I've got to say, straight off, that these four guys sing some of the finest harmonies that you could ever wish to hear. 'I'm Forgiven' shows off this quality to the full, and there's some fine brass backing to boot. 'Build an Ark' has a tropical feel to it, and it becomes pretty catchy, the more you play it. I liked the country style of 'Jesus and John Wayne' - surely a contender for "Title of the Year", as well as the 80's sounding ballad, 'Home of Your Dreams'. Just as I thought that the album had really surprised me by it's quality, in came 'Search Me Lord', full of the sweet, sickly, strains of the good old US of A that I'd feared beforehand. The good thing about this album is, of course, that the lyrics are full of God's promises and, on the whole, this record does cross over well. I certainly will be playing one or two tracks on air, so maybe others will give the Gaither recordings a chance. 7/10 (April 2009)
GAITHER VOCAL BAND : Love Songs. (Gaither Music Group)
Since the early 1990s, the Gaither Vocal Band has served as a standard-bearer in the world of gospel music. Today, the band roster is comprised of five power-packed voices, including Bill Gaither, Wes Hampton, Adam Crabb, Todd Suttles and Reggie Smith. Starting off with the Randy Travis country number ‘Forever and Ever, Amen,’ I really enjoyed this version. The main vocal is first class, and I liked the inclusion of some sporadic slide guitar. The next track is a throwback to the fifties. Originally recorded by The Four Lads, the song sounds as if it’s come straight out of a late night, lounge bar. ‘You Are So Beautiful’ has a similar feel, while The Beatles’ ‘Til There Was You’ is sympathetically done, and carries some nice acoustic guitar sounds, too. It’s a short, 6 song, release, but there’s a distinct quality throughout. Closing with ‘We’re All Alone’ and ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love,’ this is a very good love song release. 8/10. (March 2024)
GARETH DAVIES-JONES : A Play Upon the Conscience. (CD £12.99 from: 1 Hagg Bank, Wylam, Northumberland, UK, NE41 8JU)
You might think by the title that there's something more to this
singer songwriter than just putting together an album of songs
for the sake of it. Gareth takes the gritty writing style of Martyn
Jospeh, the simple smoothness of Fernando Ortega's sound, and
the commercial substance of David Gray, to come up with an album
that could just be different enough to make it big. The lyrics
delve into your conscience and ask those questions that we sometimes
avoid. Are we really building our house on solid rock, or is slowly
sinking in the sand? Listen, as "Out of Hand", an acoustic
blues number, asks that very question. Do you really put others
first? "Take A Back Seat" cleverly twists and turns
lyrically to pose another. Musically, Gareth leads the way with
his acoustic guitar but is complimented well by his co-musicians
and vocalists. "Solitude" flows effortlessly all over
you and wraps you in a cocoon of God's love, while the haunting
sound of "Heavenfield" explores the personal battle
that we all go through, especially times of denial. Take time
to listen to this album and you'll find a lot more than just a
talented musician. This is a gift for all. 9/10. (September 2004)
Rooted in the folk/acoustic tradition, Gareth Davies-Jones is a singer songwriter and guitarist who's previous work I've had the pleasure to hear. Since turning professional 3 years ago he has been gigging his way around the UK and Ireland, building a reputation as a strong live performer and a perceptive songwriter. He says that this new album deals with the "travails of life, the things that can affect us all regardless of our standing". Staying true to his live sound, Gareth's songs are accompanied by simple, stripped down sounds. "Money Goes Round" starts things off, with a look at universal wealth and poverty. "Hard Reality" sounds good with it's guitar and keyboard backing, while the first really catchy number comes with "Asylum". Here, Gareth looks at the growing problem of asylum seekers all over the world. Gareth plays the sort of music that would go sdown best in an intimate setting. It's the type of thing that Martyn Joseph has been doing so well over the year's, and now, here's someone of quality to rival his talents. 7/10 (June 2006)
Here's a chap who's a seasoned professional singer/songwriter and guitarist, who has played at many of the UK's best known festivals and venues. In the past, I've likened him to Martyn Joseph and David Gray, and it's the former category that he sits in best. One thing I like about Gareth's music is it's simplicity in sound. There's some fine music in the background, but it's uncluttered and lets him, as the singer perform his trade. He starts this album off with the excellent 'Borderland', a strong opener. 'Breathe' is also a superb song which is full of passion and good hooks. Away from the usual praise and glories to our Lord, Gareth can also write folky numbers that tell of a story. 'Shoreline of Ghosts' depicts a time, not so long ago, when miners worked down the pits in his native north east of England. Similarly, later on, Gareth weaves his words into a delightful story about an ill-fated ship. As a singer and performer, Gareth is slowly building up a reputation that I'm sure will see him become even more popular in the years to come. As for the album, it's a joy to listen to. 9/10. (June 2008)
It’s 13 years since I first had the pleasure of hearing the music of Gareth Davies-Jones. I instantly likened him to Martyn Joseph, because Gareth does have the knack of writing songs that tell a story, and this album is no different. I really liked the bright sound of his acoustic guitar work – the mainstay of all the songs – that accompanies the lyrics he sings. “Lost” tells of life’s journey, and how sometimes, we can feel lost. But, keeping our eyes firmly on the Lord, He will find us and guide us. Gareth describes the title track as “a vivid description of the best and the worst of growing up in County Down.” It’s a poignant number, but so well delivered. One of my favourite tracks is “The Luminous Years”, co-written with poet, Stewart Henderson. Again, it’s a song about growing up and listening to the words, you get a brief insight into Gareth’s world as a youth. A minor moan, for me, would be that the pace of the songs remain almost the same throughout but, perhaps, I’m being a little picky here. There’s some effective mandolin playing on “This World of Mine,” while I found “Pastures of Plenty” to be one of those songs that really draws you in. Towards the end of the track listing, there’s a delicate rendition of W B Yeats’ poem “Rosa Mundi” put to music, and I found that to be quite soothing. Gareth plays plenty of intimate gigs in his native north-east of England, and if you get the chance, he’s well-worth taking a look. As for the album, he can be well pleased with all his hard work. 9/10. (September 2017)
GARETH ROBINSON : Be Glorifed. (Kingsway : KMCD2625)
Recorded at St Thomas' Church in Sheffield, England, this is the long awaited album from acclaimed worship leader and songwriter, Gareth Robinson. Well, that's the claim of the sleeve notes anyway. To be honest, I'd never heard of Gareth and no-one in my immediate circles had either. So, I played the CD, hoping that this would push back the frontiers of worship and spark something new. Sadly, that hope was to be dashed by an album full of mediocre praise and worship songs, beginning with the uptempo "We Come to Be With You Today". It's a typical happy clappy start to a live event and is followed in similar fashion by "O God the God of blessing". Gareth has a good voice, but he really made me cringe with his OTT evangelist type opening to "Jesus You Humbled Yourself". From then on, it all becomes much of a much ness. I got the feeling that this recording was much more a planned performance, rather than a spontaneous act of worship, and therefore it all falls rather flat. In my humble opinion, there are better worship albums on the market than this. 4/10.(September 2005)
GARETH DAVIES-JONES : Faith, Folk, & Fair Trade. (CD from www.fairtrademedia.co.uk)
This EP features four songs which each touch on poor people's struggle for dignity in a world where the rules are stacked against them - a problem the world is increasingly in tune with in this year of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign and Live 8. Gareth, who has the knack of writing in Martyn Joseph style, has a very listenable voice and the simple instrumentation is well recorded. Indeed, the acoustic guitar sound is some of the best I've heard for a long time. "Greed For Gain" says " I Work all day for a very low wage…it's time to make a better deal". If you listen to the words, Gareth brings home the message of just what Fair Trade is all about. "Love thy Neighbour" is the message contained in "These Days" and the overall feel of the CD is very intimate. Close your eyes and you can almost imagine Gareth performing the songs just for you. Overall, the well crafted lyrics weave and connect well with the simple acoustic backing. 8/10. (October 2005)
GARETH DAVIES-JONES & ROB HALLIGAN : Try This at Home. (Rough Mix Records, 11 Firs Chase, West Mersea, Essex, CO5 8NG)
This is the first collaboration from these singer/songwriters who champion the cause of Fair Trade and Trade Justice. Engineered and produced by After the Fire's Peter Banks, there's a "no frills, raw sound" to this 8 track CD. Musically, it's primarily just they guys' guitars providing the backing and consequently, the sound feels a little empty at times. However, it all kicks off very nicely with Jones' 'Upside Down', which I found to be quite appealing. Halligan's 'Eleana' has a Latin feel about it, and tells the sad story of a Spanish girl who got mixed up in the drug scene and eventually died of HIV. These guys play a lot of concerts and I think that seeing them live would be a lot better than this resulting CD. The songs are quite thought provoking, such as 'Money Goes Round' and 'Do Justice', and shows the writing skills of both men. Memories of Julie Miller came flooding back to me towards the end of the CD, as Gareth sings his rendition of 'Broken Things'. A pretty little song, and well, delivered. All in all, a taster of two of the UK's busiest independent songsmiths. 6/10. (November 2008)
GARETH DAVIES-JONES : The Darkest Midnight in December. (www.garethdavies-jones.com)
Here’s chap who makes consistently good singer/songwriter albums, year after year. Gareth Davies-Jones has 15 years hard graft and experience as a professional musician, writing, recording and playing his way around the UK & Ireland. This is his 9th studio release and features new arrangements of timeless Christmas classics, plus some written word, put to music. His original “advent” starts things off, with Gareth’s unmistakable vocals singing quietly to just a piano sound. “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” has a really nice tune to it, and I thought how well it lifted Edmund Hamilton Sears’ lyrics of 1849. I’ve often thought that Gareth can be likened to Martyn Joseph’s work, in style, but over the years, he has really stamped his own flair to his music. Vocally, he never wavers, whether being gentle on “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” or more uplifting on “I Saw Three Ships” – again, to his own tune. Of these new arrangements, I thought that “O Come All Ye Faithful” was the best, but it was a close run thing. Ending the track listing is the title track. It’s a quiet song, and sung with much reverence. No doubt Gareth will be delighting his audiences on his December tour with all these songs, and more. 9/10. (December 2018)
I checked back in my archives, and found that it was 2004 when I first had the pleasure of hearing Gareth’s music. A singer/songwriter with a guitar, and with many stories to tell. This is his 10th solo album, and it’s a real homebrew release as he recorded it himself. The opening ‘No One Else’ is typical Gareth! Just his voice and acoustic guitar as he sings to the Lord; “You speak to me steadily, bearing with all my mistakes and misdeeds.” Now, here’s a song title that you might not expect – ‘The Belfast Ladies Association.’ It tells the story of the mid-19th century, and how Mary Ann McCracken and other women in Belfast responded to the ravages of the potato famine. The association was set up across religious divides to help those in need by providing aid and education. I did chuckle to myself and thought; “Yes, only Gareth could write a song about this.” And, what a song it is too! With keyboards playing an important role in this number, he sings the praises of those ladies, in a glorious way. The following ‘Isle of St Helena’ is a traditional folk song that covers the 2nd exile of Napolean. On this song, Gareth is joined by his daughter, Bronwen, and it’s a lovely version. Slower songs like ‘Wild Atlantic Day’ and ‘More Than a Memory’ follow, which are both acoustic led. This is one of those albums that are far too infrequent, that weave the lyrics into a story for each song. ‘Warden Hill’ depicts a special place for Gareth and his family, while he takes another traditional song ‘Raglan Road’ which was originally made famous by The Dubliners. There are far too many highlights on this album to list, but the Irish ballad ‘Peggy Gordon’ is very sweet. ‘My Shepherd You Supply My Need’ also warrants a special mention. Gareth has often ended his albums with a reworking of an ancient hymn, and this is no different. Based on Psalm 23, it was written in 1719 by Isaac Watts. What a beautiful version. After all the music that I’ve heard from Gareth over the years, this collection is just wonderful. 10/10. (November 2021)
GARETH HIDES : All the People. (K180Music : K180CD 001)
Even after nearly 28 years in the CCM business, I’m still amazed by the terrific songs being written and produced by independent artists, like London based Gareth Hides. This is his first, full, album, and what a cracker it is! For those of you old enough to remember a band called The Electrics, the opening ‘Revive Me’ will bring back great memories. It’s a Celtic foot-tapper that is very pleasing to the ear, with an excellent chorus. ‘Faces on the People’ plods along nicely, but the indie pop anthem ‘Tonight’ is a real highlight. “Tonight' was written to highlight our own mortality as humans, and that ‘we may not have tomorrow”, says Gareth. “It’s based on Luke 12:16-21 where Jesus says that “this very night your life will be demanded of you”. On ‘New Creation’ there’s great use of a simple guitar phrase, while on ‘Stumbling Block’, Gareth makes first-rate use of some violin and mandolin sounds. The invitation of taking the water of life, on ‘Will You Come?’ didn’t sound as joyous as I thought it should, but that shouldn’t take away anything from another, fine set of lyrics. I couldn’t stop smiling when I heard ‘Every Time You Go Away’. It reminds me so much of 1970’s Eurovision! That’s not a bad thing, Honestly! It’s bubble gum pop, with sing-along chorus that will be buzzing around your head for days. Gareth has an engaging voice, and his songs have real lyrical gravity. Add to that, some great production, and you have a mighty, fine release. 9/10. (February 2015, Album of the Month)
It’s 3 years since Gareth’s previous release made Album of the Month status, here at NFN Towers. This brand new 4 track EP carries on where “All the People” left off, with some thought provoking lyrics. Containing the best intro that I’ve hear for some time, “Hideaway” is a brilliant song. I have played it over and over again, as it’s galloping chorus goes round and round my head. Gareth says; "I wrote ‘Hideaway’ a while back when I was thinking about the times when we can keep guilt and issues hidden from God and others. God sees everything. There is nothing that we can hide from Him and He wants us to give Him our shame, instead of keeping it locked away. He doesn’t want to point the finger, but to forgive and restore us.” With that opening number being so good, it would be easy to forget the other tracks. However, although very different, “Valley of Decision” does have similar qualities. Almost with a feel of Southern Gospel, it’s a foot tappin’ track about taking the hand of Jesus when, maybe, you’ve previously distanced yourself from Him. “Blessed Assurance” is Gareth’s version of the well known worship song, and works well, with piano, trumpet and orchestral sounds providing the backing. “Within a Yard of Hell” is quite a title on its own. But, the song is big in production terms too. The theme is all about rescuing lost souls, even if they’re so close to the gates of hell. Are we prepared to do that? I’m sure that this recording will go down as well as its predecessor. The only trouble with this 4 track EP is that I wanted more! 9/10. (March 2018)
20th September marks the release of Gospel singer-songwriter Gareth Hides’ second album, Rescue. The latest offering features 10 brand new tracks and was recorded mostly in Lviv, Western Ukraine at Fonia Records. Whereas I highlighted the electric folk and even a feel of Southern Gospel in his previous releases, this album does feature a lot more mellow numbers. Featuring, primarily, just a piano backing, “The Glory Song” sounds like an old Wesleyan hymn, with Gareth’s vocals sounding a little nervous. There’s a similar sound to “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” The song was inspired by the hymn of the same name, originally written by Fanny Crosby. Indeed, Gareth does use some of those lyrics. I found these songs to be totally different to what I had expected, given Gareth’s earlier work and, try as I might, I just wasn’t keen. However, I do have many good points to make about other tracks. “Heaven’s Door” begins with just acoustic guitar rhythms, before being joined by other instruments to form a really fine, opening song. “There’s only one way into heaven; just let the Saviour take your sin.” An excellent message for those who think that they win admission through things like money! There’s a tongue in cheek, but cleverly written, look at those people who never make time for Jesus. “No Time for Jesus” is catchy and definitely makes you think about your own relationship. Gareth’s best songs are “He Was Despised” and “Send Us Out.” The former has a good tune and engages the listener, as he tells how Jesus lived and died for us. Meanwhile, the latter is quite a joyous song, which asks the Lord of the harvest to send His people out. Ending the track listing is Gareth’s take on Christmas. Whilst acknowledging what people these days generally think of the festive season, he reminds us that our focus should be on the greatest gift of all. So, despite some reservations, I still found enough quality and lyrical depth in this album to make me want to listen again. 7/10. (September 2019)
GARETH HIDES : I’m Gonna Miss You. (gareth@k180.org)
A simple guitar and a lovely cello, courtesy of Anna Ryland-Jones, provide the perfect backdrop to this heartfelt song of remembrance. Looking back on the life of a good friend or a loved one is always hard, but memories can provide some comfort. And, of course, in this case, there’s the knowledge that the person had found faith in Jesus, during their life. Gareth’s voice is strong and clear throughout, and it makes for an engaging listen. I, especially, liked the lyrics; “I’m gonna miss the times we bowed our heads to pray, and lifted each other to the Lord.” A poignant and beautiful tribute. 8/10. (September 2020)
Gareth says; “I’m planning to release a new EP, called “Saving Grace,” early in the New Year. This song will be part of the EP, which is actually not a new song, but a rearranged old hymn.” Originally written by P.P.Bliss in 1871, the song has, over the years, been recorded by the likes of Tennessee Ernie ford and Johnny Cash. Gareth’s version has a more modern feel, yet sympathetic to the original tune. Lead vocals are shared between Gareth, Dave Mwaniki and Revelation Daze, while the former links each verse with the repeated refrain; ‘Let the lower lights.’ This release stands up well against those that have gone before, and you can download the track for free or/and watch the music video at the link above. Overall though, well done, Gareth. 8/10. (December 2021)
With a number of earlier releases behind him – singles, EPs and an album – this four song EP is the latest from Gareth Hides. Due to be launched via a free concert on April 2nd at Haven Green Baptist Church in Ealing, it brings us his previous three singles as well as one new track. Things kick off with the previously released mid-paced pop single 'God is the strength of my heart', which originally came with an accompanying music video and is “based on some verses from Psalm 73”. Unfortunately the sound is quite distorted – but improves considerably with 'Let the lower lights be burning'. Previously favourably reviewed in these pages, this is a reworking of the old hymn by Philip Bliss, “is really all about letting our light shine, so others can see”, and finds Gareth supported effectively by Dave Mwaniki and Revelation Daze (aka Keith and Jenny Raby). 'The narrow way' is the one new song here (“in this life take the narrow way”) and is in my view the strongest, particularly in terms of production. 'I'm gonna miss you' ends proceedings. With a simple arrangement consisting of Gareth's guitar and “the lovely cello” of Anna Ryland-Jones, he describes it as “a response to the death of my close friend Anthony” and says he prays “that the words can minister to any who have recently lost someone close to them”. This release is certainly worth a listen, but Gareth's otherwise good voice has a tendency to a vibrato that sits above the note, which I find musically jarring. It is clear that Gareth has a strong Christian ministry however, and if 'The narrow way' is an indicator of future offerings, I look forward to hearing more. For this one, 7/10. Dave Deeks (April 2022)
GARETH ROBINSON : The Very Best Of… (Kingsway : KWCD3247)
I must confess that I've not heard Gareth himself, before, although I've played several of his songs in the past in church, so I was quite interested to hear this CD. The songs on here are all quite easy to listen to, being mostly rock/pop style worship songs. I think that occasionally Gareth's vocals sound rather like Robbie Williams, and most of the stuff on here
grows on you fairly quickly. I should think that anyone who knows Gareth's music will know most of this stuff quite well, it being a greatest hits CD, but "We See Love" is my favourite song, probably because we've been using it in church for the last couple of weeks. This is a double CD with 30 songs on
it, and like most double albums it gets a bit wearing if you try and listen to it all in one go, but that takes nothing away from the songs themselves, which are all excellent. Give this a try, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 9/10 Andy Sayner. (November 2011)
GARTH HEWITT : 'Journeys with.... - Pray for Peace'. (Kingsway).
According to Garth, this album represents "a journey of discovery,
as I travelled round the Holy Land and have met Christians and
peacemakers." What we actually get is a collection of songs
that have been previously released on 5 different albums. I suppose
it's the nearest we'll come to Religious marketing ploy, but does
this mean that - like Take That - Garth is about to spit up? The
opening 'Ten Measures of Beuaty is an awful song and is equalled
by many of the 10 songs here. However, things take a turn for
the better as the accoustic guitar is joined by fiddles and accordian
on 'Stronger Than the Storm' and 'Where is the Land of Palestine'-
both up tempo foot tappers. On the whole 'Journeys' reminded me
of those 1960's protest albums that the likes of Dylan released,
and the durge like 'Oh Palestine' is one of the most depressing
pieces I've heard in a long time. It's another one of those albums
for fans alone but, if you've already got his previous albums,
will you really want to buy this? 3/10. (May 1996)
GARTH HEWITT & FRIENDS : 'The Greatest Gift'. (Alliance Music).
I almost screamed when I received this one to review. My last
verdict on a Garth release brought telephone calls from some of
his fans. This album was originally released last Christmas but
has surfaced again in time for this festive season. It opens well
enough with 'Peace at Christmas', the sort of number that Sir
Cliff might release. There are some other good tracks featured,
such as the ambient 'Mary's Child' and the choir assisted 'Into
the Darkness'. However, (here it comes) there are some quite dreadful
songs that I personally wouldn't dare to put on an album. I've
no quibble with Garth Hewitt's work or his lyrics, but his presentation
leaves a lot to be desired. For his fans only. 4/10. (November 1996)
GARTH HEWITT : The Feast of Life - A Musical of Hope From Christian Aid. (Word : WMD004)
This musical has been written to reflect the joy and hope of Christian
Aid's Statement of Commitment "All Shall Be Included".
It's also been produced so that churches can use during certain
weeks of the year and result in an enjoyable community experience.
Sadly, this is nothing more than a Garth Hewitt album with a theme.
I really want to like his music because of the tireless work he
does but, I can't. Starting with the 'happy clappie' title track
it meanders through twists and turns in, mostly, second rate mode
and rarely moves out of first gear. "world of Difference"
is a nice duet but "Dance of Injustice" is terrible.
Here, Garth sounds like Neil Diamond and sings a song that is
far too close to one of the American artists own hits. "A
Child is the Future" raises things a little, a gentle ballad
sang by one of three females featured. Oh Garth, I do promise
never to review another album of yours again. Me and your music
just don't mix! 4/10. (August 1998)
GARTH HEWITT : Journeys - Holy Land, Africa, Asia and Latin America. (Word : W MD014)
I am pleased to review this four CD set from Garth Hewitt having
been a fan of Garth's music and ministry since being challenged
at Greenbelt years ago by the message he brings. In his distinctive
'folky' style Garth's songs tell stories of places he has visited,
people he has met and situations he has witnessed on his many
visits to the Holy Land, Africa, Asia and Latin America over 25
years. Garth's is a voice speaking out against injustice for those
often with no other voice and although some of the topics are
out of date now, as Garth says, he's left them there "to
tell the story of the pain on the journey to dignity for those
countries". My own favourite is the Holy Land CD provoking
memories of a journey I made accompanying Garth to Palestine -
the most challenging and disturbing journey of my life. Singing
'O Palestine' in a Palestinian school together with Palestinian
Christian, Jewish and Arabic teenagers is something I will never
forget. For all Garth fans and anyone seeking to learn more of
the injustices in our world this is a thought/action provoking
must, listen to the lyrics of Garth's songs and you cannot help
but be moved. 8/10. Val Hunter. (November 1999)
GARTH HEWITT : Gospel Singer. (ICC : ICCD37830)
Okay, it's "take your life in your own hands" time as,
despite all my previous reservations, I look at Garth Hewitt's
latest release. Moving to ICC has given Garth the opportunity
to return to his folk roots, labeit keeping to his tried and trusted
songwriting formula. However, introducing the slide guitar of
Melvin Duffy, Hewitt leans into country with the opening "Guide
My Feet" and "Oasis of Mercy". So, with my initial
fears laid to rest, I was rather surprised to find myself actually
enjoying some of the material. I've never questioned Garth's lyrics
but, for me, this is the best thing he's done in years - despite
the throwaway "Words of Peace". The Christmas song "Candle
of Hope" isn't just a typical festive jolly, it's been written
in conjunction with Garth's book of the same name, which is a
journey through Advent. Standing out, the harmonica lifts the
sound and really does set this album alight. I've still to become
completely won over to his music but this one certainly goes a
long way towards it. 7/10. (January 2000)
GARTH HEWITT : 1973-2003. (ICC : ICCD
Let me get two things out of the way right from the start - first,
Garth Hewitt's heavily Nashville inspired style of music has never
really "floated my boat" and second, a Garth Hewitt
concert way back in the mid-1980s was my first ever experience
of Christian music other than traditional hymns so (number 1 notwithstanding)
I will always have a soft spot for this particular heavyweight
of Contemporary Christian Music with a Social Conscience. So what
do we have here? Simple question, simple answer. This collection
of some of his finest songs of the last 30 years demonstrates
a good variety of style and content, including country, gospel
and protest songs all filled with an unmistakeable sense that
here is a songwriter who passionately cares about Jesus, this
world and its people. Stand-out songs for me are "Light a
Candle in the Darkness", "The Feast of Life" (a
wonderful duet with Jessy Dixon), "Dance on Injustice"
and a nice re-recording of "When Johnny Cash Sang 'Men In
Black'" with Martyn Joseph. If you like Garth Hewitt this
is probably an essential in your collection. If, like me, you
can only take this kind of music in small doses then give this
a try anyway - you won't regret it. 9/10 David Cooper (February 2004)
GARTH HEWITT/PAUL FIELD : The Dalit Drum. (ICC : ICCD58930).
Earlier this year, Garth & Paul travelled to India and visited
Christian Aid partners in Tiruchirapalli, as well as the Dalit
Resource Centre in Tamil Nadu. The trip turned out to be a real
eye opener, giving the duo an insight into the history of dalit
suffering. This album features many of the dalit musicians and
singers, as well as a guest vocal from Sir Cliff Richard on the
song "Indian Sun". Garth's earthy folk style is well
complemented here by Paul's leaning to pop music and, mixed with
the dalit culture, the result is quite good. "He's Holding
On" tells the story of an old man and his life and struggles,
while "Raise the Flag" depicts the dalit woman who was
stopped and attacked for trying to raise the national flag. Sung
by one of the villagers, it leaves a deep feeling in your heart.
The drums are evident throughout but, perhaps, more strongly in
"I Am the Drum". Then there's a celebration. "Caste
Out Caste" is a great song but suffers from one of the best
mis-heard lyrics for a long time; "Let the darlek's dance".
The album is full of songs of hope and "One Of Us" lifts
up the Christmas story as a sign of hope for the dalit community.
Never one to portray the run of the mill album, Garth's musical
marriage wroks very well indeed. 8/10. (December 2001)
GARY CHAPMAN : Outside. (Reunion : 02341 0003 2)
In his 5th album in 10 years, Gary Chapman invites his listeners
to come in from the cold to experience the warmth of a loving
God. Throughout the album, he continues to point you to God's
mercy, grace and love, using songs of differing quality. "Daddy
Cut My Hair" is a song about forgiveness and the 'lost sheep'
syndrome. It's a poignant number and works well. "Hold On"
is a ballad that has similar qualities but whatever possessed
him to record "I Love You", I don't know. It's the kind
of twee song that even the likes of Pat Boone and Perry Como would
be ashamed of recording! The title cut takes the biscuit in 'best
song' award, even though it's a complete rip-off of Carolyn Arends'
"Seize the Day". Gary has a loyal fan base in the UK
and I expect they will clamour for this release. As for me, I'm
not quite there, yet. 6/10. (December 1999)
GARY CHAPMAN : Circles & Seasons. Crowne : 785277700326)
His careers spans more than 20 years, and includes 8 Dove Awards,
4 No.1 songs, 3 Grammy Award nominations, and a successful run
of 3 years as host of a US Country TV show. For this new album,
Gary Chapman single-handedly recorded, produced, and engineered,
along with writing all the songs, playing all the instruments
and singing all the vocals. So, he's quite a talented guy. But,
what about the resulting album? Where does it lie in the life
of one NFN editor? Well, I like new country, and smattering of
old style too, and it's in the latter where this falls. Simple
and honest lyrics, accompanied by music that, on the whole, failed
to move me at all. In all fairness, I've played this album 5 times
for this review, hoping that something extra would light a spark,
but it doesn't. I find Gary's voice carrying little or no emotion,
resulting in a very monotone delivery. I looked at "Walk
On" closely as I thought this was the best track, but couldn't
work out why, other than, I did. 10 tracks of MOR country that
left me feeling that it was no more than bland. 3/10. (May 2002)
GARY LeVOX : One on One. (Big Machine Label Group)
After 20 years as front man to one of the most influential groups in Country history, Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox is embarking on a solo chapter that combines two of his biggest passions – music and faith. This 5 track EP begins with a shuffling little number called “A Little Love.” Lyrically, the song tells of the power of love and how showing it in our everyday lives can do so much! I’m not sure if there was something wrong with my copy of “Never Forget,” but Gary’s vocals had a very strange tone, especially during the chorus. On “While I Wait” Gary is joined by his daughter, Brittany. A mid-tempo pop number, and the duo sing of praising God in everything that they do. A short guitar solo, mid-track, sounds really nice. If Rascal Flatts fans were expecting another dose of country songs, then they’ll be, sadly, mistaken. This collection has a touch of Danny Gokey about them, in style. The single from the EP is called “The Distance.” It’s probably got the biggest production feel and, consequently, a good choice as the closing song. It’s more encouragement to accept the challenge and every battle and, with God, you can go the distance. Sadly, again, on this track, Gary’s vocals became slightly distorted, which did irritate my sensitive ears. Despite this, the EP is a worthy debut. 6/10. (June 2021)
GAS STREET MUSIC : Rewilding. (Integrity Music)
Gas Street Music is a worship community based at Gas Street Church in Birmingham, UK featuring worship leaders and songwriters such as Tim Hughes, Luke & Anna Hellebronth, Nick Herbert, Millie Tilby, Michael Shannon and more. Their new EP ‘Rewilding’ carries the anticipation of hearing the rising song of hearts tuning into the voice of the Holy Spirit, and passionately expressing their devotion with honesty. There’s an Elim Sound feel to “Love Won’t Stop.” A song of thanks, the bridge actually makes it sound rather disjointed –which is a pity. “By the Grace of God” begins, rather like a Charles Wesley hymn! A gentle verse leads to a stirring chorus. Lasting just over 6 minutes, it was one of those few songs that could have carried on for longer, without becoming repetitious. The acoustic led “Yours” features some lovely vocals but, was spoilt by some unimaginative guitar strumming. Much better is “Rule & Reign,” and the attractive “Praise to You Alone.” The latter has a really nice mellow tone to it that made a great, overall, sound. The final track “The River” is the lead single from the EP. It didn’t really do a lot for me, actually. With predictive lyrics about “being thirsty” and “drinking from the river” I shall not be rushing to play it again. So, some good songs on show, but a couple of “also rans” in the picture. Nevertheless, worth a 7/10. (April 2021)
GATEWAY WORSHIP : Wake up the world. Integrity Music 43722
This is a live recording of a worship event taking place at the Gateway Church, which is presumably somewhere in America. I really thought this CD would grow on me after a couple of plays, The style of music is more or less the style that I would choose should I ever get to lead a worship band. I really liked the driving basslines and the rhythm guitars, but somehow, and I can't quite put my finger on why it is, this album doesn't quite seem to hit the right spot. The CD opens with "New Doxology", which as far as I can tell is no different from the old one, in that it uses the same words and the same tune, but it is a fairly good rendition. After a few songs a female vocalist takes over for a few songs, and although she hits all the right notes, it just sounds kind of noisy, perhaps unsubtle would be a better description In fact that could be the problem with it, the whole thing is a bit too much "in your face". Even during the quiet bits there seems to be too much going on. I think that this is more down to the engineering than the performing though. In fact I strongly suspect that someone has strapped an enhancer across the mix to make it sound more lively, and overdone it to the point where it's tiring on your ears. On the other hand perhaps that's just how the Americans like their music to sound. So a bit of a mixed bag then. Given the never ending stream of worship CD's, of sometimes dubious quality that are churned out non stop I would have to say that I've heard (and played probably) stuff that's a lot worse than this album by a long way, but I've heard material that is a lot better too. 5/10 Andy Sayner. (October 2008)
GATEWAY : Monuments. (Gateway Music)
This collective is born out of the rich heritage of Gateway Worship and features multiple Dove Award winner and GRAMMY® nominated Mark Harris as well as Matt Birkenfeld, Anna Byrd, Austin Benjamin, Lauren Dunn, Maddison Harris, Cole Novak, Levi Smith and others making up the voices and songs. The songs are much in the mould of Bethel Music and Hillsong and, therefore, there are no big surprises in the finished article. However, that’s not to say that this album doesn’t have its credit. For instance, the title track is a particularly strong song. “I Am Found, I Am Free” travels into Coldplay territory, musically, complete with piano at the fore. I must admit that I preferred the songs performed by the female artists. “For All My Days” gets a disco treatment and the vocals by Maddison Harris are excellent. Meanwhile, the final, big production numbers, “Let My Soul” and “Wilderness” see, first, Lauren Dunn and, then, Anna Byrd literally soar with their voices. On the negative side of things, there are a few songs that didn’t really hit those high spots. “Won My Heart” in particular was one such song. Monuments was supposed to bring something new to the worship table, then I don’t think that it’s really succeeded. However, lover s of this generic type of worship will love it. 7/10. (February 2018)
GATEWAY WORSHIP : Completely Abandoned – Live. (Gateway Music)
Gateway Worship is the primary worship expression for Dallas-Fort Worth based Gateway Church, one of the largest and most influential churches in North America. Leading only 200 people in its infancy, the worship team now ministers to over 40,000 congregational attendees across multiple campuses and tens of thousands more online each week, capturing the sound and songs of the local church. The press release for this album reads; “Just as David danced before the Lord in complete surrender, nothing hidden or held back, we come completely abandoned before Him. This project reflects the heart we have to help people release their inhibitions and experience true intimacy with the Lord.” As with most of these mega-church albums, the album kicks off with two, strong tracks; ‘Here in Your house’ and ‘My Help.’ They’re followed by Tracy Pratt leading worship with the slower title track. Rather predictably, the song builds in power as it progresses, before it fades, quietly, away. ‘I Just Love You’ is split into two tracks on this album – the second one sub-titled ‘Spontaneous.’ After listening to both, I’m not sure that there was any real difference. The song title gets repeated many times and although there’s nothing wrong with Zac Rowe’s voice, I did find the overall sound rather tedious. Anna Byrd is the voice of the ten and a half minute ‘Behold Him Now.’ She has a lovely voice but, as is often the case, the intimacy of the live event, didn’t quite come over to yours truly, listening alone in my living room. A terrific song is ‘If We Don’t Have You’ which prays to God, thanking Him for His goodness, and calling Him never to stop pouring it out to each one of us. Led by Maddison Serban, for me, it’s the high point of the album. Two more spontaneous tracks slip by, before the final song ‘I Need You.’ Overall, it’s a competent collection of new songs, that must mean a lot to those who were at the recorded event. 7/10. (May 2023)
GEMMA McQUEEN : The Rescue. (CD only £12.99 inc p&p from: Spirit Music, 143 Leeson Drive, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9RF.)
Launching her debut album, Gemma McQueen is donating some of the
proceeds to CLAPA, a charity supporting babies born with serious
facial deformities. The lady, herself, has received acclaim as
a singer/songwriter from such personalities as the late Roy Castle,
and EMI's Bruce Welch, and was also invited to audition for the
role of Cathy in Heathcliffe. Although I have plumped for the
style of soft pop overall, there's more than hint of Celtic roots,
running throughout. Some tracks, including the opening 'Nothing',
are both malleable and powerful in a Kate Bush sort of way, but
Gemma's individuality shines in it's own right. The anthem 'I
Will Stay' tells of a child-like love for the Father and ministers
right to the heart. Pounding drums and dynamic use of fiddles
accompany her passionate vocals on the title track, before the
gentle 'Can It Be True'. Here, Gemma sings softly over sparse
string pads, and exquisite guitar work. The honest theme of her
own relationship with God, together with the quality of thefinished
product make this album very special. If it was a painting, it
would be hung in the Louvre. 'The Rescue' is a work of art. 10/10.
(March 1998, Album of the Month)
GENE MOORE : Tunnel Vision. (Motown Gospel)
This is the first time that I’ve heard any of Gene’s music, and I’ve got to admit, he’s got a great voice. His style is gospel, but more in the style of someone like Craig David, rather than Kirk Franklin. The theme of the album is, predominantly, giving thanks to God for all He has done for us. With “Won’t Be Moved,” Gene sings how we should put God’s love into action. Even the smallest act of kindness can show that love. I liked the smoothness of some of the songs, such as “Love Like You” and “Ask For Rain.” The former is piano led and aks God to help us to “Give grace to my brother, and help my sister.” I couldn’t shake the feeling that when Gene sings the songs with more of an upbeat motown style, he does sound, a little, like Stevie Wonder. “Take Care” would be one such song. On the ballads, “Depending on you” and “Always Jesus,” Gene’s vocals are sublime. The latter has to be my favourite track on the album. No matter the “trains and tears,” there’s always Jesus. Great voice and some fine songs make this an enjoyable listen. 8/10. (October 2019)
GENIE & TROY NILSSON : Whisper. (Everland/Word : CD7019968600).
On hearing the first track, the temptation of the listener is
to turn up the volume as you try and increase Genie's gentle vocals.
However, if you simply relax and tune in to the sounds, she -
and husband, Troy - will carry you along with their peaceful and
soft music. Troy produces almost all the music while Genie concentrates,
primarily, on those wonderful vocal tones. "Shalom, shalom"
carries few words, but what power there is within them. "Your
Love Calls To Me" is my favourite piece, and conveys the
knowledge that God is always with us no matter what we're
going through. As well as original material, "The Lord's
Prayer", "The Beatitudes" and "Be Thou My
Vision" are all given the Nilsson treatment, with outstanding
results. The marketing people say "Ambient and gentle, perfect
for devotions and meditation". Who am I to argue? 10/10.
(June 1998, Album of the Month)
THE GENTLEMEN : A Candid History of Faith, Hope, Love. (Stereo Tree : 8204692)
This 4 piece indie band from Sheffield, formed in 2005. Since then, they've gathered a large following and have played sell-out gigs in their home town. Their latest single, 'Something You Can't Regeret' has garnered plenty of airplay, and there's quite a buzz around these guys. Musically, when they rock, they sound a little like Kasabian, and the single only adds weight to that thought. 'I'm Not Leaving' follows in similar vein, and there's plenty of energy too, on songs like 'Push Back!' and 'Fairy Tales'. Nicholas Noble has a fine voice but I did find his falsetto moments to be quite irritating, especially on 'Unique'. Guitars fly, and drumbeats crash as the boys gel well together as a band. One thing that did cause me concern though was the lyrics. I think I understood the theme of 'Protest Song', and how the media stereotypes the youth of today, but I failed on most of the other songs to gain the meaning. 'Fairy Tales' was a prime example, with lyrics about dragons and princesses failing to make sense to this listener. But, maybe it's just me, and I'll hold my hand up and say that these guys do sound good, and I'm sure even better, live. 8/10. (June 2009)
I recall seeing this band in a late-night spot at Greenbelt 2007 and being impressed. I also recall them bringing a lampstand onto stage – surely not the same one in the inside photograph? Despite several press mentions I’d not heard much so was pleased to get this CD to review. This is a lot more polished than I recall (as you’d expect) but still retains their energy. The guitar loop over driving bass in “This Is It” is especially good, as was the vocal/riff intertwining in “Another Day”. Vocally they’re a bit more pop than rock (i.e. sung more than shouted/screamed) and there’s more than a hint of classic 80s about the arrangements. “27 Days” could probably have sat well on a Duran Duran album, for example, with others being quite Tears For Fears – and was that a Theremin on “Another Day”? Yet it’s more an amalgam of styles than a rip-off (“A Little Bit Foreign” is more Franz Ferdinand-esque) producing their own style that they’re clearly comfortable in. It’s all very good and well played (TFF were renowned perfectionists, so my comparison to them is a compliment) but feels more suited to an intimate venue than a stadium – the vocal acapella at the end of “Lights Of Tokyo”, for example, having a living-room feel to it. There are places where it feels like the band are actually sitting back and I do wonder whether they reproduce this sound live or drive harder – however, “I Won’t Let You Down” has a wonderful stripped-back feel to it that needs the spaces in the sound to work: wall-to-wall guitar would ruin it. It’s a good solid album and I had to play it several times to try and pick a best track as there’s no fillers here. In the end: best track: “This Is It”. 8/10 Paul Ganney. (April 2014)
THE SONGS OF GEOFF BAKER : From A Grateful Heart. (ICC: ICCD27530)
No, I hadn't heard of Geoff Baker before, either. Why I haven't
come across his music before is beyond me, after listening to
this album, featuring a whole host of top British musicians. It's
not an exceptional collection of songs but, apart from the awful
'Let Us Celebrate', they are pleasant. 'I Know My Redeemer Lives'
is an m.o.r. pop based praise & worship standard, but you
can't help tapping your foot to it's sound. There's some very
powerful vocals and accompaniment on the superb 'Nothing Can Keep
Me From His Love', and a lighter feel to the country tinged 'He
Rescued Me'. It's not as 'in your face' as Hillsongs, but many
will like the more peaceful style of Geoff Baker. 7/10. (October 1998)
GEOFF BULLOCK II : "Now is the Time" (Kingsway Music)
Subtitled "The Songs of Geoff Bullock II", this 11 track
release is performed by a whole host of unknown Australian artists.
Apparently, Mr Bullock is a very popular contemporary praise &
worship song writer but, all too often, I found that this collection
would send me to sleep. The opening number "The Power of
Your Time", is a powerful number and one of the strongest
tracks featured. The words of the title song tell of a love for
the creator that we really don't deserve, as we fall so short
of His perfection. Now, that really did have me singing and worshipping.
Like all the album I've had the pleasure of reviewing, I have
no qualms about the lyrical content, it's just the presentation
in music. 5/10. (October 1996)
UK singer/songwriter Geoff Evans marks his debut release with this 4 track EP. Much in the mould of Frank Turner, he relies on his acoustic guitar to convey most of the songs. “Carry Me” opens the recording. Its simple message is that God really does carry us, especially when times are hard. Geoff’s vocals sound well until mid-song, when he really seems to struggle with his ad-lib phrases. Showing more promise is “Future Song.” He says that the song itself is written to inspire people in their lives. With modest lyrics, the song is straight to the point, and vocally much better. The highlight of the EP is “Gloria.” Yes, it’s a cover song, but the use of more instruments, seems to give Geoff more confidence in his delivery. After singing a version regularly in a church surrounding, Geoff says that it “Really helped me spiritually,” and wanted to record it. Finally, the title track comes along, and it suffers from a poor recording. There is some nice guitar work on show, but the sound is rather muffled and every finger slide is so magnified that I found it detracting from, what is, a good song. Overall, Geoff shows enough moves, musically; to indicate that with better production, his ministry could prove to be very beneficial to both himself and other. 6/10. (May 2018)
Following up his EP “Paper Planes,” North Wales based singer/songwriter Geoffrey Evans is back with a brand new single. He says; “When we go through tough times our first response is usually to shout out for help, usually to God. I've found that even if we don't have faith this is where we usually end up at some point in our lives. This track is a response to that crying out.” The slow piano intro is very nice, and Geoffrey’s vocals slip seamlessly in the verse. For the chorus, things pick up a little with the arrival of percussion and guitars. I was a little put off by the strange guitar solo that seemed rather alien to the rest of the song, but that maybe the producer coming out of me. And, talking of production, Geoffrey has put great effort into for getting the overall sound just right. His EP was a bit of a struggle, but he’s learnt from his mistakes. A nice song of worship that this singer/songwriter should be very pleased with. 7/10. (October 2018)
GEOFF HOWLETT : Fear No Evil. (Private Recording : NFN001. CD £7.50 + 75p postage; Cassette £5 + 50p from : Geoff Howlett, 113 Bricknell Avenue, Hull, E. Yorkshire, England, HU5 4EU).
If the artist's name doesn't give it away, then the label does.
This is NFN's editor in full flight on his first solo album. Recorded
at Hull's Eastside studios over "far too long", it kicks
off with "You Promised" and the tone is set. Geoff writes
songs with catchy choruses separated by verses that do far more
than simply fill the spaces: they tunefully explain the words
that you'll go round singing for ages after first hearing them.
Then just as you think you've got the album sussed and are ready
to give it a solid 7/10, it steps up a gear: "Ebony Blood
and Snow", "When the Son Comes Down" and "Sea
of Flames" are the album's purple patch, "When.."
featuring some of the best-recorded acoustic guitar I've heard
in a long time. Asking around, the track that's raising the most
interest, though is "No", a re-working of a song Geoff
first aired with "95 Foot Wave". This is a calmer version,
and took me a couple of listens to decide that he's done the right
thing. If the album has a fault (and as a reviewer, I'm supposed
to find at least one) it's in the ordering of the tracks: it runs
more like a live gig than an album. It starts strongly and closes
with a stomper, but lacks a cohesion in places, that, live, would
be given by the introductions. Did I mention I like the album,
by the way? 8/10. Paul Ganney. (November 1998)
GEOFF HOWLETT : Always & Forever (Private Recording : from Geoff Howlett, 113 Bricknell Avenue, Hull, England, HU5 4EU. CD : £3.50; Cassette: £1.50)
It must be at least 18 months now since Geoff released his solo
album, 'Fear No Evil', so it's about time we heard from him again!
Since then, Geoff has found himself playing much more to audiences
of over 35s, so has built upon those experiences to produce a
more mature style of music. Released for St. Valentine's Day,
this EP of four more Howlett compositions certainly shows this.
All are love songs, treated in different ways but with Geoff's
lyrical style stamped all over them. The EP opens with the title
track, unashamedly retro 60s - but doesn't he do it well? And
it goes on ... 'My Love' , also 60s style, is a slower number
with the arrangement really catching the style of the time. 'I
Love You' is more of an acoustic number with Geoff's guitar work
coming to the fore, whilst 'The Positive Sign' makes use of modern
technology and reminds me of 80s synthesiser stuff such as Soft
Cell and early Depeche Mode. I like this collection as a whole,
and the variety works but I have to say that Geoff's forte
is definitely in the 60s retro material. His voice is perfect
for it, his original songs just seem to slide into it, and the
way he uses modern sounds to recreate it is great. No crackle
and hiss! Geoff's version of the Billy Fury classic 'Halfway to
Heaven' adorns the late star's fan club website, so surely that
is recommendation indeed. Nice one, Geoff! 8/10. Julie Lord. (March 2000)
GEOFF HOWLETT : Golden Days. (CD £5.50 from 83 Parthian Road, Hull, Yorkshire,UK, HU9 4SX)
Well, if Daniel O'Donnell can record an album of secular classics,
why can't Geoff? After all, as he takes his music into various
venues, there's always a smattering of smash hits from the 50's
and 60's to help roll back the memories. His love for British
rock n' roller Billy Fury results in three of the legend's tracks
on show, "Be Mine Tonight", "Cross My Heart"
and the classic "Like I've Never Been Gone". Similarly,
three songs made famous by Johnny Tillotson also get an airing,
"Judy Judy Judy", "My Special Angel" and "Poetry
in Motion". Despite the age of some of these songs, Geoff
has the happy knack of making them sound just as fresh as the
day they were in the charts. Hit's by the Beatles, Buddy Holly,
and Bobby Vee slip together nicely with songs like "Venus
in Blue Jeans" and "Summertime Blues," all helping
to make this an enjoyable listen. 7/10. Warren Harry. (September 2004)
These days, plying his trade, predominantly, in the world of secular music, singer Geoff Howlett follows up his 2004 tribute album with well known hits of yesteryear. Kicking off with the Dusty Springfield classic, 'I Only Wanna Be With You', Geoff takes us on a journey of musical history, with songs that he covers in his live sets. One early piece of feedback stated that it was nice to hear Gene Pitney's '24 Hours From Tulsa' actually sung in tune, and this version certainly hits the right notes. There's 90 seconds of what became one of Adam Faith's biggest hits, 'What Do You Want?', while Geoff also offers a mini tribute to British singer Craig Douglas, with 'Pretty Blue Eyes' and 'When My Little Girl is Smiling'. One surprise inclusion is the 2007 hit by the Killers, 'Human' but, again, it works well. Geoff hasn't forgotten how to play instruments though, and his guitar playing is highlighted in a thoughtful solo on Robbie Williams' 'Angels'. No Geoff Howlett gig would be the same without a passing nod to Billy Fury, and he doesn't disappoint, singing versions of 'Halfway to Paradise' and the lesser known 'I'll Never Quite Get Over You'. It's an album that you'll enjoy if you're of a "certain age". It's never going to rock your socks off, but with covers of songs by Chris De Burgh, Ronan Keating, and Shakin' Stevens, it's sure to find you singing along. 7/10 Warren Harry. (February 2010)
GEOFF HOWLETT : Love Songs. (£5 from geoff@geoffhowlett.co.uk)
Another year, and another offering of golden hits from the golden tones of NFN maestro, Geoff Howlett. Playing concerts in his native Yorkshire area, Geoff has built up a reputation of providing an excellent evening of memories and entertainment, through songs from days gone by. This time, he's decided to celebrate Valentine's Day, by issuing an album of 17 love songs. There are far too many of my favourites to mention here, but Geoff caresses each word on songs like Billy Fury's "I'll Never Quite Get Over You', and Air Supply's 'All Out of Love'. He surprised me by taking on Shania Twain's 'Still the One' but, somehow, it works quite well. Slower songs like 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' and 'Dream a Little Dream' and equally as enjoyable as more uptempo numbers such as 'You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth' and the powerful 'Tracks of My Tears'. Most people will know a good number of the tracks but, for some, Roxette's 'Vulnerable' will be a hidden gem. All in all, a delightful CD. 8/10 Warren Harry. (February 2011)
GEOFF MOORE : 'Familiar Stranger...The Early Works of...'(Benson).
Actually, it's only a couple of month's since we heard Geoff's
last album, 'Home Run'. What we have here is the chance for relatively
new fans to catch up on some of his early releases. The familiar
traits of good, catchy choruses are here - if only on a couple
of songs - but most of the songs are written by members of Whiteheart.
It opens, however, with Larry Norman's 'Why Should the Devil Have
All the Good Music', and is followed by a foot stompin' rocker
called 'Never Wanna Go Back'. If you're a fan of his Huey Lewis
type music of the 90's then you may well be disappointed with
this retrospective release. There again, there is a classic track
'Make Your Mind Up' from 1986 which just may persuade you to add
this low-price album to your collection. 5/10. (May 1996)
GEOFF MOORE : Speak To Me. (Rocketown Records)
With 16 albums to his credit in a 22 year career, Geoff Moore will always be found doing what has sustained him throughout this time - Loving God, loving his children and especially their mother, and taking advantage of every opportunity to make Jesus known. The album starts off strongly with, what I believe to be, a sure fire radio hit, 'Speak to Me' - a reminder hat God speaks to His children through a variety of means. 'When I Get Where I'm Going' was originally a huge country radio hit for Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton. Here, Moore duets with Christy Nockels and they do a fine job too. It's a fact that God sees everything that we do, and that's the story behind 'He Knows My Name'. Geoff's got a good voice and at times he reminded me of Bruce Springstein with his delivery. Certainly the rocky 'So Long, Farewell' rates well. It's the first time I've heard anything from Geoff Moore for a little while and the wait was well worth it. 8/10. (December 2007)
GERALDINE LATTY : Devoted. (Kingsway : KMCD2439)
This is the first time that I've come across Geraldine Latty outside
the usual live worship and other such compilation albums, so I
wasn't too sure hat to expect. She writes most of the songs listed,
and interprets passages from the Bible into song. "O Lord
Our God", for instance, is straight forward praise, linked
to 2Chronicles 6, and it's one of the strongest songs, complete
with "happy" feeling. It took three listens before I
started to enjoy this album as the first two plays seemed to pass
me by. The old hymn, "Take My Life" has been given a
new lease of life and I honestly hated it on first hearing. By
the third, however, I began to change my mind, and can say that
I really enjoy it now. Strange how things grow on you isn't it?
In fact, I could say that about the whole album. "Wash Me
and Cleanse Me", and "We Will Proclaim" are two
more songs that seem to improve with repeated plays, so I'll persevere
and, for now, give Miss Latty's album 6/10. (June 2003)
GERALIDINE LATTY : 2-4-1. (Kingsway : KMCD2794)
Geraldine Latty is an increasingly-in-demand worship leader, who sensitively treads a fine line between gospel/soul and pop. She is becoming widely known through leading at a wide range of conferences and events, including Spring Harvest and New Wine. What we are presented with here, as the title suggests, is a "2-4-1". That is, you, discerning reader, get twice the Geraldine for your money. Disc one is her album "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace". Whose production and recording is ably handled by Caroline Bonnett and a slew of UK sessioners. Disc two, is handled by US powerhouse John Hartley, and features, among others, Phil Madeira and Matt Slocum, providing Latty with their sessioning help. Both albums are, of course, strong in both song and performance, whether the songs be original or old-faithfuls re-invented, with the clarity and soul of Geraldine's voice shining throughout. If you are a fan you probably have both of these already, but if not, this compilation would be a good place to start. 7/10. Haydon Spenceley. (October 2007)
GERALDINE LATTY : Shout It! (Kingsway : KMCD2911)
Geraldine is as well known for her contributions to worship leading at big events such as Spring Harvest & Focusfest as she is for her solo albums. "Shout It" is her 5th solo release & she has just finished her UK promotional tour. All songs on the CD bar one are new with the title track having been written in celebration of 21 years of Steve Chalke's Oasis Trust charity. What I do find a big bonus with her material is that as
well as the usual print of lyrics on the CD insert, Geraldine digs a little deeper & also gives us her scriptural references for each song as well as the background/inspiration behind it - quite refreshing! However I wasn't quite so inspired by the musical contents, despite the smooth vocals & professional musicians. This was a bit of a let-down as I always saw Geraldine as a rather passionate & bubbly person from listening to some of her live worship from the festivals, but here the passion lies more within the lyrics. The songs are very relaxed affairs and apart from the occasional bit of flavour such as the dash of salsa spice in 'Shout It' or
Celtic-style accompaniment in 'Our Hope', I found the songs somewhat bland. Chances are that in most environments they would have passed me by unnoticed, a bit like lounge jazz - pleasant enough at the time but will it be remembered later? There's little doubt that followers of her ministry
will be blessed & encouraged by the contents but I cannot see "Shout It" making huge inroads with those outside this sphere of influence. 5/10 Simon Redfern (March 2009)
GERALDINE LATTY : Lord I Come (The Very Best of…). (Kingsway : KWCD3201)
There can’t be many worshippers who haven’t sung at least one of Geraldine Latty’s compositions, here in the UK, over the last few years. She consistently comes up with popular songs, and this double CD compilation, celebrates her work. From the jazzy feel of ‘First’ to the Latin American rhythms of ‘Shout It’, Geraldine soon shows that she is no slave to one particular style of music. The opening few tracks are all very nice but it’s when ‘Surprising’ hits the speakers that I really began to take note. From then on, it’s an enjoyable ride of accessible songs. There’s a calypso feel to ‘It’s Amazing’, while the real purple patch also includes ‘Take My Life’, ‘How Can I Repay You’ and ‘Yet Will I Praise Him’. On the second CD, there’s a happy declaration called ‘Worhsip God’. A simple song but, once again, well written. I thought that ‘Perfect Love’ sounded like a traditional hymn, and I would be interested to hear it set to a church organ. ‘Our Hope is in You Lord’ and ‘Holy God’ are just two more great songs that bring the album to a close. If you haven’t a Geraldine Latty album in your collection, then this is a must. 9/10 (June 2011)
GERON DAVIS & KINDRED SOULS : Let It Rain. (Daywind : 4187000922)
Geron Davis established himself as a singer, songwriter and worship
leader at the age of 19, after writing the popular worship song
"Holy Ground". The Kindred Souls are none other than
his wife, sister, and sister's husband. Together, they regularly
lead worship seminars and perform concerts in churches throughout
America. This new album sees plenty of songs in the Yolanda Adams
genre, not least the title track and "There's a Light On".
Not for some time, have I heard an album with direct messages
of the Gospel, in traditional style. "Undenying Love"
is full of God's promise and sung as a testimony of His love.
"Go" (tell the world) produces an awesome choir of angels,
singing their hearts out, while the quieter "Don't Be Afraid"
is just beautiful. When the sound gets funky, it lost my attention.
The "grooves", as they say, just don't excite me. Mind
you, the rest did. 8/10. (April 2003)
GERSH : Awakening (Spring Hill Music)
Gersh is Mark Gersmehl and Awakening is caused by his realisation
that this world is infinitely more beautiful and fragile than
he had dreamed and that who he was yesterday was no longer good
enough. The music comes from a spiritual and musical journey to
seek more and more of God's heart. There's no doubting the sincerity
of the driving force behind the CD, but does it communicate and
is it, to put it bluntly, any good? Yes and yes. Gersh's vocal
is very reminiscent of Peter Gabriel. The musical style is very
singer/songwriter (albeit with a band rather than solo). If you're
into Gabriel/Dylan/Toploader then you'll like this. "I believe"
is almost funky and very clear in where Gersh is coming from,
although "Awakening" (the track) is probably the best
even though it is also the most Gabriel-esque. Listen before you
buy, but it's worth the effort. 8/10. Paul Ganney. (September 2002)
GEORGE BEVERLEY SHEA : How Sweet the Sound". (Authentic)
Here's the guy who's been around as long as the Bible itself!
Well, I may jest, but George Beverley Shea seems to have been
sharing the gospel through hymns and testimony since time began.
Indeed, as a soldier of God, he must have seen some spirtual fights
in his time. This two disc set contains his gentle delivery on
songs like "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story", "The
Old Rugged Cross", "Amazing Grace" and "Rock
of Ages". According to the sleeve notes, George has sung
in front of over 225 million people around the world, many of
which have been through Billy Graham Crusades. There's a few songs
new to me on the discs and this collection is a fine tribute to
a wonderful man. 6/10. (January 2005)
GEORGE HUFF : Miracles (Word/Curb/Warner - 8863802)
George Huff is 22 & has been singing since he was 5 years old; he also lists writing music & plays piano playing amongst his talents, so I was expecting great things. He hails from New Orleans which can be a great place to be from if music is your thing. The hype this album has had in the USA has been quite something, which I guess comes with the territory of being an American Idol finalist. Listening to the content of the album however doesn't quite display the expected "X Factor" (sorry about that pun)!! George is without doubt a good singer, but the material that's been chosen for this album does him no favours - it tends to be bland & somewhat lifeless which is disappointing. His style of vocals is somewhat remeniscent of Boyz II Men (remember them?) which is a positive as their quality level was outstanding. The 1st track "Real Love (I Got It)" is a medium-paced American R&B track which is quite catchy with some good if rather predictable musical arrangements which are quite typical of music of this genre. The remeinder of the album slows right down all the way through & is so laid back, it's horizontal - reminds you of end-of-the-night type music but sadly does nothing to ignite a great deal of further interest, with the music sounding rather manufactured & heaps of "whoa whoa", ooh, ooh" & "yeah, yeah" lyrics in the intros. Good as background, but come on George...you've got more in you that's way better than this! 4/10 Simon Redfern (April 2007)
GhostLotus : Won’t He Do It. (Knighthood Records)
At last, a hip-hop artist who I can actually hear and understand the words he’s conveying! GhostLotus, as he's known, has been writing and rapping from a young age. He has always seen music as an art form and pursues perfection by expressing through his music real life situations mixed with a gospel message. This song is about perseverance. So many times we pray, expecting the path of least resistance. But, it usually doesn’t work out that way. GhostLotus delivers lyrics that tell of learning through tough times, and evolving because of them. In unclear moments, stand in the certainty and clarity of who God is and ask yourself, “Won’t He Do It?” The music sample behind the voice is almost hypnotic, albeit unpretentious. This is certainly the most enjoyable hip-hop track that I’ve heard this year. 8/10. (December 2020)
GhostLotus : Rise of the Overcomers. (Knighthood Records)
Over the last couple of years, this artist has released a number of singles, including ‘Heart of God’ and ‘Revival.’ He says; “I have been on a journey with the Lord and I have seen Him work in ways you wouldn’t imagine. I created my new EP ‘Rise of the Overcomers’ to give comfort to anyone going through a storm.” GhostLotus is described as a Dubstep artist – of which I had to ‘Google’ to get it’s definiton. What about the music? Well, the first song is called ‘Overcomers.’ GhostLotus duets with a female vocal, and it’s quite decent tune. The previously mentioned ‘Revival’ gets an outing next. To me, the sound is more rap than anything. There’s minimal musical backing, and the track lasts for just over two minutes. ‘Brother’ gets a mixture of rap and singing vocals. Lyrically, GhostLotus sings about real faith and been left in a dungeon. He also goes on to say that he knows God will never leave him. With all apologies to the artist, I wasn’t sure what the rest of the song was about. It’s said that Dubstep is a type of electronic dance music, but I couldn’t imagine anyone dancing to any of these tracks. There are six songs, all very similar to each other, on this release. I, obviously need to investigate Dubstep more, because I was totally lost as I listened to GhostLotus. 4/10. (January 2023)
GHOSTREE : Ghostree EP. Online only (independent)
UK four piece Indie band Ghostree have released their debut EP as an online only offering (for the time being at least) on Soundcloud. However from first impressions, this release has the potential to go further as a hard copy CD. Those that have read any of my previous reviews will be aware that I am partial to something a bit different than the run-of-the-mill praise & worship offerings & this sure fits the bill in that respect. From the outset with the opening track “Hope” you’ll notice this isn’t your usual fayre with a rather atmospheric, slightly dark & possibly theatrical atmosphere & frontman Haydon Spenceley adds to this aura with his moody vocals - certainly fits the “indie” label. “You They See” is a little lighter on the ears & has a good rocky feel to it. My favourite on the EP has to be “Glorious” though as I found it to be one I would be likely to listen to repeatedly & not get bored. It’s by no means a fast track but it still packs a punch in terms of the powerful God-centred praise lyrics & is certainly useable in a church setting – albeit with a little modification! “Save My Day” follows on in a similar vein with “Hallelujah” completing this offering at a slightly more relaxed pace, but for me took a while to get going. Difficult one to categorise is this – has a splash or REM in some respects with a dash of Coldplay. Some may find it a bit too out of the ordinary but this grew on me! Musicianship from this 4 piece outfit is excellent throughout & I have to admire some of the drum patterns & some of the rhythms could be occasionally seen as a tad experimental but it does work. I look forward to seeing what else these guys can produce as I am sure there are greater things to come! 8/10 Simon Redfern (April 2012)
GINNY OWENS : Something More. (Rocketownrecords : 080688618926)
When I heard a couple of Ginny's songs on a sampler, I was impressed
by the freshness of the sound, and her vocal qualities. So, it
was with eagerness that I listened to this album, hoping for more
of the same. The theme of the album is a "timeless message
of love and hope", and Ginny does write intimate and thought
provoking lyrics but the end product is quite ordinary. "With
Me" is an "OK" sort of pop song but nothing special.
"This Road" gently sees the piano accompanying Ginny's
"little girl" voice and this IS quite pleasant. But
it's through to track 8 before there's a song that rises head
and shoulders above mediocrity. "Simply Love You" tells
how, sometimes, our lives become so busy that we forget that our
Father is there to guide us and the prayer response is that we're
sorry and we just want to love Him. It's a great song and such
a pity that it's a gem amongst some dull stones. 4/10. (July 2002)
GINNY OWENS: Live from New Orleans. (Rocketown Records : RRD3723)
I quote Ginny's own words, "By the time we recorded this project, the band guys and I had been on the road together a little over 200 shows so this set of live songs sounds low key, lived-in, relaxed". Unfortunately, it is all too much of these things, to the point where what has been produced is a lifeless collection of tuneless banality. It's hard to distinguish one melody from the next and even the arrangements of each track seem similar and unvaried. I would really like to be positive about this album but it is difficult to find a redeeming feature, not helped by the fact that I have struggled on every occasion to reach the end of the album. The extended spoken intro to "Call me Beautiful" is unnecessary and distracting, starting with her comments from a reviewer that this track "could have been written by anybody". I concur, and venture that this extends to the whole album. I don't doubt Ginny's sincerity, and her songs are reflections of her experiences, but this album is delivered in such a way that prevents me from sharing and engaging with them. 2/10 Robin Thompson (August 2005)
GINNY OWENS : If You Want Me To - The Best of... (Rocketown : RRD5024)
Ginny Owens has won three Dove Awards and scored several radio hits in the US. A view of NFN's review archive shows that none of the reviewers have really been taken by her music. Indeed, Robin Thompson called her last live offering "Lifeless", and that would pretty much sum up this collection. Ginny has a nice voice but her songs are very samey and weak. "Free" is a pleasant enough song and has a shuffling beat to it. "Wonderful Wonder" is equally as nice but all too often I found the songs all too bland to get my teeth into. Song after song comes and goes, with a few live tracks thrown in, but they failed to win me over. Late on in the listing "40", at least, comes over in a different style but it's still fairly tedious. And, if that's not bad enough, "Live Once" is a sure cure for insomnia. So, while the American's continue to love her, I can't see this album winning Ginny very many new fans in the UK. 3/10. (November 2006)
GINNY OWENS : Never Be Another. (Chick Power Music)
This song is from the upcoming release of Owens’ I Know A Secret Expanded Edition. Beginning as a ballad, Ginny sings sweetly, like an early Taylor Swift. Musically, production increases to include toaccompany the second verse. With praise to Jesus, the singer declares “There will never be another; who could ever save me; Never be another so amazing; Never be another with a love like yours.” A simple, but excellent song. 9/10. (July 2023)
GLAD : Acappella Worship - The Highest Glory. (Benson: 8441823972).
Almost two years ago, I gave my album of the month award to an
acappella release by Sweet Deliverance. The album was full of
great harmonies, catchy links, and mightily strong songs. Yes,
you're ahead of me aren't you? This is the other extreme. No,
the harmonies are quite good, but the songs are so bland that
they tend to just drift in and out of one another. "Awesome
God" was the first recognisable tune but, by this time, Glad
were already on the slippery slope. A little percussion is added
here and there but it fails to lift, what soon becomes, a drab
affair. This is the group's 18th album in it's 20 year history,
so they do have a splendid background. I can only assume that
the previous releases have been better than this. 3/10. (April 1999)
GLADDEN : Hunt Me Down. (Dream Records)
Recently signed to Dream Records, South Carolina artist Gladden says; ’Hunt Me Down’ is an anthem written for those who feel unlovable. Using hunting as imagery, I really wanted to harp on the fact that we cannot outrun God’s Love for us. Throwing caution to the wind, True Love never stops its pursuit of us. We can either run from love or rest in it.” Starting with a pop beat, Gladden sings; “I keep running away from love; You keep hunting me down; I keep trying to mess this up; You keep coming round.” Mid-song, we get a little bit of hip-hop, but it soon returns to, what soon becomes, an infectious chorus. Very radio friendly, give it a listen. 8/10. (March 2024)
GLASS BYRD : "Open Wide This Window. (Word records.
I must admit that when I first saw this CD I was half expecting
a sugary coated worship album, just like I really hate. It was
a pleasant surprise then when I heard it, as it was nothing of
the kind, in fact I liked it right from the start. GlassByrd are
Christine Glass, and Marc Byrd, hence the name, and this is their
second album together. The information supplied with the CD said
that this album would appeal to fans of Jars of clay, and there
is a similarity. If however I had heard any of the tracks that
are sung by Marc, on the radio without knowing who it was. Then
I would have bet money that I was hearing Del Amitri, it's that
kind of sound, acoustic rock with a jangly electric guitar over
the top. I don't think there's a bad track on this album, "I
Stand Amazed" and "Peace To You" stood out to me
personally. I would certainly recommend this CD to anyone. 10/10
Andy Sayner (April 2003)
This album is the debut by this band, and has been completely
self financed. Apart from the drums which were recorded at ICC
the rest of the CD was done at various houses, churches etc. With
no record company to mess everything around this CD retains that
raw edge that is often sacrificed in the name of
commercial necessity these days. The music is mainly guitar driven
fairly up tempo rock worship, but there are a few slower numbers
which are just as good too. For me the best track on this CD is
"I can hear" which is a slower number, and has a definite
U2 sound to it. Not too sure about the vocal on
"Need to see you though", there are some falsetto lines
in the verses that sound a bit too much like Justin Hawkins out
of The Darkness. Apart from that, and to be fair, it's not really
a bad track, just my personal prejudices coming out, this is probably
one of the best Christian CD's that I've heard recently. The
band have a website that has quite a lot of interesting stuff
on it too, it's well worth a look. You can buy the CD from there
too, there's a link to Acorn Direct. Give this CD a try, I'm sure
that you won't be disappointed with it.
9/10 Andy Sayner. (December 2005)
GLENN PACKIAM : Rumours and Revelations. (Integrity : 46582)
This is the first time I've heard of this guy, and I wasn't sure what to expect when I first saw it. It's a fairly straightforward pop/rock album, nothing too flash on it, but it's a pleasant enough CD to listen to. Mostly guitar led, but some piano led songs too, the vocals reminded me of Deacon Blue, but with possibly a bit more of a rock backing than they use. Most of the songs are no nonsense worship songs "God has come" is probably my favorite, though there's nothing bad about any of the tracks. I guess if I had to find something to moan about I could say that it's a bit "samey" but it's not a really long CD. You can put it on in the background. The last track is called "Second Hand Jesus" and it's a reading of the first chapter of a book that Glenn wrote, it seems to be mainly about of hand wringing about some indiscretion committed by the Pastor of the church. Obviously this was something fairly important that led to him being removed from office, but I'd have thought the album would have been better with another song instead of a long speech that nobody will really care about who wasn't involved, and that will simply be skipped when the CD is played. So not a bad CD, but let down by the last track. 6/10 Andy Sayner. (November 2009)
GLISTEN : Starlight Wishlist. (KMG : KMGD8692)
Produced by Steve Hindalong of The Choir, Glisten's debut release
features powerful distorted guitars and pounding rhythms. If the
Manic Street Preachers decided to praise God, then this would
be their album. Snappy pop songs, mixed with full blooded anthems
that seem to last a lifetime. My main problem with this collection
was trying to pick out any real highlights. Saying that, there
isn't a single song that I completely disliked, they all seemed
quite listenable without really setting my mind afire. The atmospheric
"Rejoice" had me reaching for an old Pink Floyd record,
as I was sure I'd heard it before. "Used" uses that
psychodelia guitar sound of the sixties and swamps the overall
production to a stage of euphoria. Jason Pettit's lead vocals
are reasonable without being outstanding, and the lyrics are all
written towards a sincere and deep praise of God. Not my particular
taste, but not a bad release. 6/10. (July 1999)
GLORIA GAYNOR : Testimony. (Gaither Music Group)
This gospel/blues/soul album offers a laid back experience, full of powerful truths from the scriptures wrapped up in a modern day, lyrical setting. Her pristine vocals settle nicely in the foreground cushioned by exquisite musical arrangements and at times backed by a small choir. This album “Testimony” was recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville Tennessee, with guest appearances from Jason Crabb, Yolanda Adams, Bart Millard (whose song “I Can Only Imagine” is the best-selling single of all time in the history of Contemporary Christian Music) and Mike Farris. In the late 70s disco artist Gloria Gaynor’s career fully surfaced with her incredible classic disco track “I Will Survive” an anthem on all of our lips at the time regardless of age or whether we fully understood at the time what she was singing about or not, that didn’t matter. It was/is a track that takes us back to the place we first heard it. I was at an ice rink disco skating singing my heart out. Gloria is now 75 years old with a lot of life experience behind her, and of much we can glean from those experiences and her wisdom. She suffered sex abuse at the age of 12 which caused difficulties in later life in her relationships. At a concert in New York she fell backwards over a monitor and woke up the next morning paralyzed from the waist down. She walked again but this injury led to operations and years of chronic pain. She has also lost her parents and siblings, been married and divorced. “I Will Survive” has probably been a personal anthem for Gloria herself throughout her life. Throughout her new album “Testimomy” comes shining through what she has gleaned from her own personal pain to a great understanding of Jesus companionship, love and help as she has walked along her life’s journey. Through her pain she now offers us this beautiful uplifting encouraging album “Testimony”, and it sure is a great testimony of her faith that she passes on to us through these beautiful, encouraging, truthful, uplifting songs. Her track “Back On Top” enables us to hear where she is now. She’s “Back on Top.” Album highlights: From track to track you’re going to hear lyrics that will take you on a journey of your own life, where you have been, where you are and where you are going. “Testimony” will warm your heart and bring hope to your soul. Joy Comes In The Morning: “Joy comes in the morning/If you just be still/Joy comes in the morning/No matter how bad it feels.” He Won’t Let Go: “Take a look at me I’m living proof/Trust and believe He’ll do the same for you/It’s nothing we can earn, it just takes a little faith/It’s nothing we deserve, it’s just His amazing grace/And if you’ll hold on, He won’t let go, He won’t let go/Just put your hand in the hand, in the hand of the man with the master plan/and He won’t let go, He won’t let go/He won’t let go.” This album will bring you a sense of peace if you don’t have it. I’ll leave you with this thought, some people have praise music on in their homes quietly in the background all the time, they say it creates a peaceful atmosphere having words of scriptures, encouraging positive words filling the atmosphere constantly. This album is so relatable, truthful, gentle and laid back it will add to the peace in your life. Gloria Gaynor believes that peace is the greatest gift we can have, she has found it through her faith in Jesus, she offers a glimpse into her world and life through this album showing us that her hand is in the hand of the one with the master plan and our hand can be too. Vivienne Neville 10/10 (August 2019, Album of the Month)
THE GLORIOUS UNSEEN : Tonight the Stars Speak. (BEC : 09463811362)
Here's a 5 piece worship outfit from Nashville, who are supposed to be akin to the sound of The Violet Burning. Described as playing "ambient pop", the idea is to make the music suitable for "contemplative" worship. So much for the blurb, but what about the proof? Well, I honestly thought that Ben Crists' vocals were some of the most mundane I've ever come across. As for the songs themselves, then the band must all take the blame. There's the usual subjects on offer, but what a dreary and uninteresting set of songs they are. 'Hear Our Prayers' is, perhaps, melancholic at it's best, but there was just no spark to the song at all. 'Oh Praise Him' relieved the tedium, mid way through thelisting. It's a straight forward praise song that has a life of it's own amongst the dead wood of the rest of the album. After three plays, I don't think that this CD will get much private play on my CD player. 3/10. (March 2008)
THE GLORYHOUNDS : The Gloryhounds 1&2. (Private Cassette
Recordings. Tape 1 £1.50 / Praise Tape £2.50 : from
Dan Harris, 34 Leicester Street, Kettering, Northants, England,
NN1 8EF.)
Here's a relatively new band that will be playing at this year's
Cross Rhythms Festival. They play in pubs, as well as the usual
church events and,consequently have released two demo tapes -
one for each setting. The first has just two tracks in the style
of bands such as Cast and Ride. "Candle in the Wind"
is not the Elton John number, but an upbeat Brit pop venture that's
sure to please that genre. The other song is "Looking For the Light", a similar track but
with a more catchy hook and tight guitar driven sound.
The second tape contains three songs and, to be honest, the only
way in which it differs from the first is the lyrical content.
The sounds are the same but the words are nstantly more spiritually
recognised. The pick of these, I guess, has to be "Celtic
Night Prayer", complete with it's atmospheric keyboards and
anthemic feel. As well as the Brit style, I thought that there
was a little gothic inspiration there too - perhaps creeping in
from three of the band's previous excursion into punk rock? What
both tapes show, however, is that the band are competent musicians
with a set of songs that are relevant to toaday's youth culture.
Let's hope and pray that they continue this way. Tape 1 8/10
: Praise Tape 7/10. (May 1997)
GO FISH : Infectious. (In Pop: pod1239)
In the last 5 years Go fish have sold more than 100,000 units
of their independent releases. With a recognised record company
firmly behind them, the three guys now have a chance to spread
their wings and reach countless thousands with their music. They've
been described as "acapella with attitude", so imagine
my surprise to find not one single acapella track on the whole
album. However, there are some quite astounding songs such as
"That's What Amazes Me". It tells of the wonder of a
little baby from a father's point of view. It's a gentle song
but very powerful in it's lyrics. "Watch Me Go" sees
the band's harmonies in full flow while "You're My Little
girl" would win my vote for best potential radio single.
It has lovely words, as God talks to one of His creations and
tells her that she is an individual and perfect to His eye. Funnily
enough, I found the title track to be one of the weaker songs
on the album. It's a sort of power pop track that doesn't really
work for the voices on show. I can see why Go Fish have sold so
many albums independently, they can only get better. 8/10. (December 2001)
GODFREY BIRTILL : Lift Up Your Heads - Live in the UK'. (Kingsway Music: KMDVD014)
Previously a press photographer, Godfrey Birtill reached 43 before entering full time music ministry. Now with twelve independently recorded albums behind him (mostly live) since 1998, this is his first DVD. Led by Godfrey
and his 'Godin semi acoustic guitar' (according to the DVD insert!) and with a proficient band, the five song 'performance' part of this recording features an Eastbourne worship session that lasts just over 30 minutes. Other items include a Chris Bowater interview of Godfrey, and a video of an
Amazonian charity. The interview shows Godfrey as a humble man with a heart for God and a real desire to communicate the Christian message - and when you see him in action, the audience involvement makes his gifts as a worship
leader only too obvious. Godfrey can also write strong songs, with somewhat old fashioned lyrics but with good melodies and 'hooks' - the best track for me being the closer 'After I've done everything'. As a mere observer however, not participating in the 'atmosphere' of the event, I found myself
noticing that Godfrey's voice has its weaknesses, and he tends to maintain a serious and 'straining' expression that distracts from the joy of what he is singing about. Perhaps this is me being over-sensitive - even though I love David Gray's albums for instance, I find him distracting live because he
shakes his head a lot! Godfrey Birtill has, of course, a much more important message to communicate. May he be blessed, and continue to be a blessing, as he follows his Master's calling. 7/10 David Deeks (January 2008)
GODFREY BIRTILL : R U Ready? - Live. (Kingsway : KMCD2880)
I've only heard a few of Godfrey Birtill's songs before, so this was a good album to give me a broader view of his music. What I really liked about this collection was not only the quality of the songs, but the numerous styles he uses. 'Raise Up, Raise the Standard' has a great, original sound to it, and is a belting opening track. There's a mixture of blues and punk to the terrific 'Like a Wild Goose', while the title track is pure rockabilly! Godfrey's a seasoned pro, so there's no wonder he presents his songs with consummate ease. There's a more "normal" worship number called 'Over the Dead of the Desert' mid-way through the CD, but it's the rocky 'Come Let Us Seek' that set my feet tapping. African drums, celtic rhythms, they're all there and I enjoyed them all. The closing 'The Die Has Been Cast' is a song that empowers you to live your life for Jesus, and it's a fitting end to a wonderful CD. There's a bonus DVD included, and this was an added bonus. Well worth your money. 10/10. (December 2008, Album of the Month)
GODFREY BIRTILL : A Chip Off the Old Block. (www.godfreyb.com)
Lincoln based Godfrey Birtill travels extensively throughout the UK and abroad leading worship and preaching the gospel. He has also led at many city prayer gatherings, regularly leads teaching seminars, and also takes worship into public houses. This is his 16th live album release and what a cracker it is! His style is predominantly acoustic based folk, similar to the recent albums from America’s United Pursuit. But, let me say right now, this album is much easier to relate to. Recorded live, there’s a real togetherness of those involved, and the overall sounds creates a very intimate atmosphere. Songs like the opening “Gospel Train” instantly prick up your ears with a very accessible sound, that is almost sixties Dylanesque. Godfrey unashamedly sings about his love for Christ on “I Am Not disappointed in You.” An early favourite of mine had to be “Everybody Sings in Heaven.” It’s a got a great chorus that you just can’t help joining in with. The song tells that everyone in Heaven, on Eagle’s wings will sing together because there’ll be no illness, no issues, no homelessness, no worries….the list is endless. “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” has a Celtic leaning, thanks to the violin playing of Andy Smith, while there’s another, great singalong song in the shape of “Have You Seen Who He Hangs Out With?” The song gets a little bluesy in parts, as Godfrey declares that Jesus is the lover of every living soul – even him! And, just as think it can’t get any better; “Without Love We Are Bankrupt” comes along. It’s another fantastic song that you will find it hard not to join in with, and even dance to. Finally, things close with a lovely song of worship called “Do You Believe What I Believe About You?” Just one guitar, a whole host of voices, and a magical sound. This album was so good that I played it through four times, one after another. A superb recording. 10/10. (June 2016, Album of the Month)
GODFREY BIRTILL : Intrinsically linked. (www.godfreyb.com)
Released at the back end of 2017, this is Lincoln based Godfrey’s latest album. Recorded live, it captures a raw, but honest, sound that has become a trademark of his recordings. There’s no hidden agenda with the message of the songs, they’re all purely centred on God and what He can do in your life. “Inside of You is a Real Believer” is a super song. Beginning with a fiddle sound, it starts of slowly, but speeds up into its refreshing chorus. Many people have written their version of the Nicene Creed, and Godfrey does a fine job with his. As with a lot of live worship recordings, things calm down mid-album with three songs that sound quite similar to each other. “Embraced By God” is led by a piano backing, and is quite reflective in style. “Heaven is the Song” and “I’m in Chains” follow on – the latter including a touching guitar solo. Vocally, Godfrey’s voice never wavers, and is quite engaging. I liked the change in tempo for “The Law”, where the song almost creeps into country rock territory. Another song of note is “Yours.” Here, the message is of God being the infinite source of joy, peace, life, and love, while the chorus’ beat is that of a march. There’s plenty of good songs on this album, and it shows just why Godfrey’s live concerts are so popular. 8/10. (March 2018)
GOOD JOB 42:10 : For the Record. (wwwgoodjob4210.com) Free Download
Good Job 42:10 describe themselves as a “Gospel Bluegrass Worship & Ministry team from South Wales”. There’s certainly that good time feeling from their sound. The album entitled For the Record is a collection of 9 well known and loved worship favourites. The songs have been given the bluegrass treatment and as far as I’m aware is quite a rarity in this country. If you like down home country and bluegrass you’ll enjoy this album. Their reasonably strong vocals and harmonies blend well and it’s obvious in their delivery that they have a passion for who they sing about. My only observation is that there are a lot of songs that sound the same and have the same groove. I personally would’ve liked to hear more variation. I particularly enjoyed the track His Eye Is on the Sparrow which was a refreshingly stripped back version of the song. Although I was uncertain about the add on at the end of a scratchy old time record player version of Our God Reigns. For myself, I would have liked to hear the full version of this song as the sound of full harmonies and strong vocals gave a taste of the potential of this group. All in all a good first effort and I look forward to hearing them develop as a band. 6/10 Angie Lendon. (October 2015)
Goodness Johnfree is a gospel singer, songwriter, and a graduate of the University of Benin, and she is currently based in Benin. Of the song, she says that it; “Speaks about everything Christ has accomplished for man by His death on the cross, his burial and resurrection and because of the cross, all the promises of God are functional now for everyone who believes in the eternal sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary.” So, onto the song itself. It has a fairly slow tempo, with keyboards taking the main thrust of the tune. Goodness herself begins to sing; “God you are so good,” many times. A minute or so into proceedings, a choir joins in, plus some nice electric guitar. From there, the singer loses the tune a little, as she raises her voice in praise. The backing continues to repeat the song’s title, as Goodness ad-libs through the remainder of the song. As a result, what started as a nice song of praise, becomes a rather untidy production. Such a pity. 5/10. (September 2023)
GORDON GILTRAP with Carol Lee Sampson and Martin Green : Echoes of Heaven. (Big Web Entertainment Limited : BW4207)
I guess the name Gordon Giltrap needs no introduction, especially if you are a fan of folk music, but beyond that he has worked with some very famous artists over the years such as Brian May, Rick Wakeman and Midge Ure. This album was borne out of Gordon's feeling that some his tunes would work well as hymns and, as a result he teamed up with Carol and Martin to provide the lyrics and vocals – and a smattering of extra guitar too. As expected there is a strong folk feel supported by Gordon's style and altered tunings. The opener “Praise Him” is a big opening number, with a percussive guitar riff and a full band backing. In fact, in almost ventures into the area of prog rock. However, it's not a very representative track, as most remain laid back and stripped back. I particularly love the catchy “Under a Blue Sky” and the festive “Christmas Carol”. The songs “Heartsong” and “The Lord is My Strength” reprise the more energetic and fuller sound of the opener but this remains a contemplative and reflective collection of songs. My only criticism is the two instrumentals that consist of a narrative over the top – I would have preferred these to remain instrumental as they are beautiful pieces of music. Whilst I can see the purpose of the narrative, it doesn't work for me and breaks up the mood of the album. However that gripe aside, this is a great cd, offering something very different and it will certainly remain in my playlist for some time to come. 9/10 Robin Thompson. (June 2012)
GORDON MOTE : Don't Let Me Miss the Glory. (Springhill : CMD1131)
Gordon Mote is the blind singer songwriter best known for his work with the Gaither Homecoming releases over here in the UK. However, this album could open a lot of new doors for him at this side of the Atlantic. His southern gospel/country style has a certain appeal, and he's previously toured with the likes of Alan Jackson and Martina McBride. Indeed, on this album he duets with Alison Krauss on the track 'Maplewood Methodist Church', which is a nice country number. 'Adoration' starts things off and it's a track that I've already featured on the radio. The title really says it all and it's a great song. Similarly, the title track bounces along with some class. Gordon challenges you to go out and evangelise on 'Get Up in Jesus' Name', and it's a stirring battle cry. I wasn't too keen on his bluesy 'Ain't Gonna Give Up on God', but there's a host of other top tracks to get your teeth into. 'Wake Up Dancin' is an easy listening song, and it has some effective steel guitar sounds helping it along the way. With this album, Gordon lets you see what he sees through a warm voice and terrific piano playing. 8/10 (February 2009)
GORDON MOTE : Songs I Grew Up Singing. (New Haven : 8100-2)
Gordon Mote grew up in a family that sang in churches all across the southern states of America. This album revisits some his favourite songs from that time in mostly country and southern gospel style. ‘This is the Time I Must Sing’ is a great, uplifting number, and probably the best track on show. ‘Give Them All to Jesus’ is a slower song that tells the listener to give all your cares and worries to Jesus, while ‘Who Am I’ features some nice slide guitar. I’m not sure that some of the old songs work in a modern production. Certainly, I found ‘God’s Gonna Do the Same for You and Me’ to be rather irritating on the ear. Where Gordon does excel is when he takes the lead on his piano, such as ‘Rise Again’ – a delightful ballad. ‘Oh Buddha’ is a quirky number that compares other religions and false idols, with God, in a bluesy kind of way. I’m not sure if this song would get much radio exposure, other than on Christian stations! In the 70’s, I think it was a guy called Ray Stevens, who had an international hit with ‘Everything is Beautiful’. Here, Gordon and the choir give a faithful rendition of the song. It’s lyrics may be simple, but they still ring as true today. Looking back, I enjoyed his 2009 release ‘Don’t Let Me Miss The Glory’, much more than this. 6/10. (April 2013)
GORDON MOTE : All Things New. (New Haven : 8104-2)
It’s five years since I came across Gordon’s music, and I’ve got to admit that I’ve found a lot of it really good to listen to. This new album is principally produced by acclaimed country music producer and longtime friend Frank Rogers who has garnered five Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and 13 Country Music Association (CMA) Award nominations for producing such artists as Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins and Darius Rucker. It’s a country style that lends it’s weight to the title track. God makes “All things new”, and what an uplifting song it is! Gordon’s piano playing is always superb, and he really seems to enjoy giving his all on the rock n roll boogie number, ‘Ain’t It Just Like the Lord’. ‘Meanwhile Back at the Cross’ is a big ballad, with a big production behind it, while ‘God of New Beginnings’ focusses on people going through difficult times in their lives, yet still clinging onto God’s promise. The gospel sound of ‘Down By The River’ didn’t do much for me, but I did enjoy ‘Sound A Dream Makes’, which reminded me of Rascal Flatts. There’s also a beautiful duet between Gordon and his wife, Kimberley, on ‘The Other Side’. The hope of heaven (on the other side), where death is left behind. The song is simply stunning. A veteran of many years working with the Gaither Family, Gordon is a very welcome solo artist, too. 8/10. (February 2014)
GORDON MOTE : Where You Lead Me. (New Haven Records)
‘Where You Lead Me,’ is Godon’s latest effort, marks the fourth release on the New Haven Records label and blends the creative efforts of Mote with multi-award winning producer, Wayne Haun. Together these two producers create a musical masterpiece that conveys the faithfulness of a loving Father. The aptly named ‘The First Song’ is a full blown country song that motors along at speed. Slowing things down, comes ‘Missing Jesus.’ A duet with Travis Cottrell, it’s a sweet number that tells of how we live with a missing piece in our lives, and that hole is filled by the love of Jesus. Gordon tackles numerous changes of tempo on the album. ‘Come Tomorrow’ is a medium paced Lonestar-esque love song, while there’s a gentle feeling to ‘He Forgives and Forgets’. Favourite track? Well, ‘What I Already Know’ which is a sweet song, with a lovely orchestrated backing. Gordon never fails to bring a good collection of song to the table and these carry on that tradition. 7/10. (July 2023)
GOSPEL BOULEVARD : Gospel Boulevard. (Javelin : Jav4107)
When you think of gospel music, you usually think America. Right?
Wrong. Think Holland! In the year 2000 a decision was made to
set up a new black gospel choir. this was the vision of the group's
director Andre Bijleveld. After extensive auditions, the choir
was named and this self titled debut is their first offering.
Full of excellent harmonies and lots of energy, the emotion of
the songs spill out for all to hear. Wow, they've even breathed
new life into Mary Mary's "Shackles". dare I say that
it's better than the original? Nothing wrong, either, with the
lyrics. Straight praise to God, as in the beautiful "It's
A Matter of Love" or the swinging "my Life is in Your
Hands". Bill Withers' "Lovely Day" gets the GB
treatment too, and that goes down well with me anytime. Like black
gospel? you'll love this. 8/10. (May 2002)
THE GOSPEL GREATS VOL.4 : Men of Gospel. (Verity : 01241-43155-2)
Culled from 11 top albums, this release features the very best
of gospel music. Household names like Fred Hammond, and Hezekiah
Walker are joined the lesser known (in the UK) John P Kee and
Richard Smallwood, to name but four. Indeed, the latter provides
one of the real highpoints, for me, with catchy "Bless the
Lord". The Canton Sprituals really take the tempo down with
"Memories", a massive 9 minute song. The Commissioned
give their usual funky style to proceedings, while Tonex's "Real
With U" produces superb harmonies on another great song.
Other artists include Ben Tankard and Donnie McClurkin, and what
this album does show is that gospel music, new and old, is as
powerful as it ever was. 7/10. (December 2000)
GOTTA HAVE GOSPEL : Various. (Integrity 28352)
This is a 2 CD set, with a bonus DVD thrown in for good measure.
If you like dance music then I guess you will enjoy this album,
but personally I found it to be somewhat tedious. Perhaps if there
was just one CD it might be better, there is a limit to the number
of wailing gospel choirs I can take in one go. Like most gospel
albums there are loads of cliché ridden worship songs,
complete with all the usual key changes, and cheesy sounding organs,
and also there is a lot of "spontaneous applause" that
American audiences seem to excel at, whilst everyone else is left
wondering what is going on. There is of course the obligatory
song from Ce Ce Winans. Also a Smash Hit Single "Dance Dance
Dance" by Mary Mary, and the rare "Don't Worry"
by Kirk Franklin. Presumably it's rare because nobody bought it
the first time around, to be honest I don't think there's much
to recommend this CD full stop. It's just one more attempt to
repackage a load of second rate songs, which in my opinion too
many of the big Christian labels are doing far too much of these
days. On the plus side though, three disks, that's almost a set
of coasters! 3/10 Andy Sayner. (March 2004)
GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY : The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan. (Columbia: COL511126)
It's hard to think who this CD is actually aimed at, a collection
of Dylan's Christian songs sung by various gospel groups. I suppose
that all the die hard Dylan fans will buy it anyway, but is there
a huge market for traditional type gospel music? I must say that
I prefer the originals myself. As a fan of Bob Dylan I did wonder
about buying this, but after hearing it I'm glad that I didn't
bother. Traditional gospel is bad enough at the best of times,
but Dylan's songs weren't written as traditional, most of the
songs on this CD were driving rock songs originally, and don't
really work in this style. Like gospel music tends to do this
CD gets a bit intense in places, with much whining and wailing
going on. Bob himself only appears on the final track, which is
"Change my way of thinking" from his "Slow train
coming" album. It's a duet with Mavis Staples, and it's awful.
As I said, unless you are a really serious Dylan fan I wouldn't
bother with this. 4/10 Andy Sayner. (October 2003)
Grace Nkechi Okwu Amah is a Nigerian Gospel music minister based in Ireland. This Traditional Eastern Folk worship single is tempered with rich eulogies of God’s majesty and supremacy. Grace says; “A time comes in life when nothing matters except to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives, for me that time is now. Keyboards, guitar and orchestral sounds flow gently, as the track begins. Grace has quite a powerful vocal but sadly, for me, a lot of the words are not sung in English. Of those that I could understand, they were words of praise and worship. At times, Grace’s vocals are lost alongside the sound level of the backing singers. That frustration resulted in me being unable to give a more detailed review of the lyrics. 5/10. (April 2022)
GRACE CHAPEL WORSHIP : Songs of the Incarnation - Ever With Us. (Grace House Music).
Available as a 7 track CD or download, here we have the first Christmas offering from the worship team of Grace Chapel, hailing from Leiper's Fork in Tennessee. Kicking off with a capable, contemporary and slightly country-fied version of 'Joy to the world', the following track 'Ever with us' is probably the standout. This well written slow-to-medium paced ballad is beautifully delivered by Dove Award winner Alisa Childers and I wasn't surprised to discover that it has been released as a single. The following track 'Peace be still', with its piano and strings arrangement, is the only other original composition. The remainder of the EP features 'God rest ye merry Gentlemen', 'Angels we have heard on high', 'O holy night' and finally 'Silent night'. 'O holy night' is brilliantly delivered by CCM veteran Amy Morriss Lowly, but to my ears the arrangement somehow misses the 'worshipfulness' of other versions. 'Angels we have heard on high' is the low point, with its stomping country arrangement featuring ukulele and slide guitar and a rather nasal male vocal. 6/10. David Deeks (January 2016)
GRACE CHAPEL WORSHIP : So Loved. (Grace House Music : B01KR56NUS)
I remember as a young Christian browsing the cd section of my local Christian bookshop for some music that both floated my boat musically and provided a solid Christian backbone and lyric. There weren’t many artists that fitted that description – well many that fulfilled the latter – but not many that were to my taste musically. However, there was a small handful of American artists that did, one of whom was long haired rocker and bassist Rick Cua. This story might seem of no consequence except that these days, as well as still being involved in the Christian Music scene in his own right, Rick is also a contributor to the worship at his church (as well as fulfilling the role of pastoral care pastor) which is none other than the titular Grace Chapel, Franklin, Tennessee. In fact the opener of this album, “Meet Us Here” was co-written by Rick – no longer long haired but still clear in his mission and ministry. For me then, these are very good credentials, and should mean this album is capable of rising above the crowd in a saturated market. Thankfully it does just that with a clutch of really good songs and creative arrangements. Stand outs for me are the anthemic “My Victory” which has a great melody line as well as a staccato, driving rhythm and, by contrast, the piano led “Christ Be All”, a reflective number in the midst of what is on the whole quite an uptempo set of worship songs. And that’s why it works for me. There is a really good flow form one song to the next and the album is joyous and uplifting. It’s not vastly different from your typical worship album, but the subtleties of some of the arrangements coupled with some first class songwriting and a real desire to take the listener on the worship journey with them means that Grace Chapel have a real winner with this one. 9/10 Robin Thompson. (November 2016)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : No More Walls. (Alliance : 094).
In the sleeve notes, Graham writes that the first 11 songs are
"Street songs for public praise whenever and wherever..."
After listening, let me tell you that there is no way I would
sing any of these songs in public. As a non-Christian work colleague
commented "This is 'Jesus wants me for a sunbeam' music".
"Shake hands with as many people as you can", he calls,
launching into "Reach Out...". "Oh Our God Is Good",
says the title of the next track. So He is!, I cried, pity about
the song - tacky just doesn't enter in to it. The second half
of the album is entitled Prayersongs, and lift this album from
sinking into oblivion. "Save The People" is undoubtedly
the highlight but the quite excellent "Come Let Us Return"
runs a close second. What Mr Kendrick was thinking of when he
wrote the first half I'm not sure, perhaps he was tired. 4/10.
(July 1997)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : What Grace. (Make Way Music : MWD8).
So, it's 5 years since Graham's last studio album. Not that he's
been taking things easy, mind you, it's just that all the other
work he's been doing has left little time for recording. "What
Grace" doesn't produce anything radically different from
any of his previous albums but, and this is the thing, it does
carry on the high standard he has done before. The opening "To
You O Lord" is one those Kendrick songs that draws you instantly
into worshipping an almighty and powerful God. The theme is carried
on with "To the King Eternal" and "The Spirit of
the Lord". Then, it's a duet with Martin Smith, "Lord,
You've Been Good To Me" - a prayer of thankfulness for all
the good things the Lord has done in his life. The closing "Everybody
Everywhere" paraphrases Psalm 145 and is a celebration of
God's greatness and of the reasons why He is worthy of praise.
Well, Graham, it certainly does that, and it's great to see you
on top form. 9/10. (May 2001)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Do Something Beautiful. (Fierce Music :MWD12)
Dear Graham, Early in my Christian life I bought your single "Let
the Flame Burn Brighter". I hoped and prayed it would make
the Top 20 but, sadly, it didn't. Over the year's I've listened
to many of your albums and sung even more of your songs in worship
throughout the country. As much as I disliked your 1997 "No
More Walls" release, I was overjoyed to see you return to
top form with "What Grace" last year. After listening
to this new album, I'm afraid I am quite disappointed. Why? Well,
Graham, most of the songs sound tired and out-dated, as if you've
tried to re-write everything that you've done before. Mind you,
when I first heard the duet with Darlene Zchesch, I thought that
it was a great start.. Then came the title track. I'm really sorry
Graham, but it is so bland and, in all honesty, that's how I feel
about the rest of the album. Do Something Beautiful? Yes please,
but make it better than this. 2/10. (June 2003)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Sacred Journey. (Fierce : MMD13)
Recorded live on his "Cathedral tour", this album sees
Graham return to his acoustic roots for, what is, an intimate
evening, despite the grand surroundings. You feel immediately
at home with the man who has given this country so many great
songs over the years. Indeed, it's easier, sometimes, to forget
just what classics have been written or co-written by the man
himself. "Led like A Lamb" starts things off and there's
an instant feeling of gentle worship. Then, there's the story
of the simple fisherman, in "Simon's Song", a lovely
little ditty. "Caiphas & the Temple Guard" comes
at you with a jazz tinge, and I didn't like this one at all. Other
well known songs include "Meekness & Majesty" and
"The Servant King", each sung and performed with much
reverence. "Thorns in the Straw" is a new ballad to
my ears and I felt that Graham's voice really brought out the
best in it. Not stunning by any means, but a nice album from a
great bloke. 7/10. (April 2004)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Out of the Ordinary. (Fierce! : MWD15)
Now, despite some of my reviews over the years, I've always had a soft spot for the music of Graham Kendrick. Some of his songs where the first I heard after becoming a Christian, many moons ago. This album sees him flex his writing skills and come up with some really good songs. "Creation's King" is simply one of the best thing's Graham's written in ages, both spiritually and musically. I thought that "What Can I Do" had Delirious? written all over it, but writing credits go to Graham and Paul Baloche. It tells of just how we should praise and thanks God everyday for what he's done in our lives. It's a catchy tune and one that buzzed around my head all day. "Great Are Your Works" is a snappy little tune while "Only You Deserve the Praise" is a slower, deep worship number. I found "Language of Angels" to be rather dull but the bright and bouncy "Your Love" soon lifted my spirits once more. Graham's inspired writing shows that there's plenty of life in the old dog yet. 8/10. (March 2007)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Dreaming of a Holy Night. Fierce! : MWD17)
Ever since Graham Kendrick wrote and recorded his 'Rumours of Angels' CD, he's been looking forward to writing another set of songs for the Christmas season. This new album features 13 tracks that look at the Christmas story from both inside - courtesy of the characters Joseph & Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah - to outside, looking at the wonderment of the incarnation, and forward in awed anticipation of the fulfillment of what began on that holy night. After a rather stuttering opening song, Graham begins to get things together with the title track. But, forme, the album really takes off with a song sung by a female artist. 'Look What the Lord Has Done For Me' has a good temp and is well produced. I liked the following song too. 'A Prince is Born' chugs along quite nicely, and has a well used choral backing. By the time 'Suddenly A light' is playing, you can tell that Graham is back to his best, with an attractive arrangement and and very enjoyable song. It's 'feel good' music, and why shouldn't we feel good when we're thinking about the birth of Jesus? 'Midnight Star' and 'A World Awakes' are tops, and there's still time for glorious praise with 'Rejoice, God is Now With Us'. A super album. 9/10 (December 2007)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Shine Jesus Shine/Is Anyone Thirsty? (Fierce! : MWD18)
The song 'Shine Jesus Shine' became a rallying cry in the 80's for an entire generation. Even today, it's as popular as ever. The album of the same name produced music for the Marches for Jesus, and also launched other classics. Re-released as part of this Fuse-Box series, the album does sound somewhat dated, but songs like 'Such Love' and 'Soften My Heart' still provide lovely worship. 'Show Your Power, O Lord' and 'We Shall Stand' are both celebratory praise numbers, while I found 'Prepare the Way' a little cheesey to say the least. Also, 'Fling Wide Your Doors' sounds more like a cockney knees up at the local pub. The second album was originally released in 1995, and I found that to be rather lifeless, apart from three songs mid album. 'Knowing You', 'For This I Have Jesus' and 'Let It Fill the Room' are all praise filled songs, that are of much higher standard than the rest of the songs. Graham has, of course, moved on musically over the years, but this package may well be a timely reminder of his earlier work. 6/10 (March 2008)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Knowing You Jesus- The Very Best of... (Kingsway : KMCD3076)
Listening to this double CD made me realise that my former church music group could well have doubled as a Kendrick Tribute Band! I remembered so many of these songs from days gone by, I'm surprised that we never promoted one of the man's concerts. My first real knowledge of Graham Kendrick was back in the late 80's when he released the single "Let The Flame Burn Brighter". Long before the likes of Delirous? Hit the charts with the help of social networking, Kendrick's song hit the lower reaches of the Top 50 here in the UK. A re-working of that song opens the second CD, and features the Psalm Drummers. It's still a great song. In fact, all the songs have been re-recorded for this release, and lover's of Graham's music will not be disappointed. 'Shine Jesus, Shine' still shines as a classic, as does 'The Servant King'. 'For This I Have Jesus' is one song that I wasn't too familiar with, but I enjoyed it's reflective sound. There's a stirring version of 'Amazing Love' and an empowering feeling with 'Teach Me To Dance'. Other tracks of note include 'Restore O Lord', 'May The Fragrance' and 'To You O Lord'. It's a great collection of songs from one the UK's best loved praise and worship artists. 9/10 (November 2010)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Banquest. (Kingsway : KWCD3205)
There’s something quite reassuring about a Graham Kendrick release. Over the years, I’ve come to realise that a lot of his songs have played a big part in my worship to God. Graham says that “Banquet seemed an apt title for a collection of songs for the worshipping community – the Agape’ love fest that is the church”. The album starts of with ‘Building A House’, honing in on the fact that God is building a house for us all, and it’s up to us to fill it with glory. The song itself is catchy, and the perfect opener. ‘Love Each Other’ is simple, yet contains a thought provoking message for the church. The title track has an almost Celtic feel to it, thanks to the inclusion of Mike Haughton’s recorder playing – a recipe that’s repeated successfully on ‘Merciful’. Song after song just flows majestically and it’s easy to soak into worship time. ‘Stand Up’ is a call to stand up and fight for Jesus, while ‘Risen’ celebrates that glorious Easter Day. And, just when you’re coming to the end of the album, Graham acknowledges that with a delightful song of blessing, ‘The Peace’. It’s a delightful album and contains many songs that are bound to become worship standards of the future. 10/10 (August 2011, Album of the Month)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Worship Duets. Integrity Music : 51472)
As long term readers of NFN may remember, I’ve a bit of a soft spot for Graham Kendrick’s music. Over the years, his music has been a bit of a comfort blanket and I’ve enjoyed many of his songs in the church setting. This new album of old and new songs, sees Graham team up with a host of well- known artists for ten duets of differing quality. ‘Hymn of Ages’ kicks things off with Matt Redman adding his vocals to the mix. It’s a nice song and sounds really good. Martin Smith joins Graham on ‘Praise My Soul the King of Heaven’. This rendition is sung with real feeling, and is followed by a touching version of ‘The Servant King’, with The Rend Collective Experiment. Things don’t always work well though, and neither ‘Saving Grace’ (Michael W Smith) and ‘That Name’ (Darlene Zschech) hit the high notes. Of the others, ‘Oh What A Love’, with Stuart Townend, is the best, and really enjoyable to listen to. But, just to show how another person’s opinion may differ from your own, my wife found the songs on the album “too samey” and a “bit of a bore”. For me though, overall, it’s a pleasing listen. 7/10. (July 2013)
GRAHAM KENDRICK : Ultimate Collection. (Integrity : 65102)
There was a time when the worship group at my church sounded like a Kendrick Tribute Band! That was because of the impact, this man’s praise and worship songs had during the 90’s. The fact that he has continued to write great songs for the church is nothing more than fantastic and a real blessing to many. This collection features almost all of his best loved contributions, including a more modern version of the church worship standard “Shine, Jesus, Shine”. Following this opener is the slower “Knowing You Jesus” – a song that, again, has stood the test of time. It was lovely to hear it again. I’ve always found “Amazing Love” to be a very moving song, and this rendition only confirms my stance of it. There’s a surprise collaboration with the Rend Collective on “The Servant King” while Martin Smith duets with Kendrick on “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven”. It’s an album of pure love for our God and Saviour, full of timeless classics. “We Believe” sounds more like an indie release but pride of place must go to the very simple song “The Peace”. Somehow, it just closes the album perfectly. Whether you’re new to the music of Graham Kendrick or a fan of his songs already, putting them all together is a great idea. 8/10. (November 2015)
The Grandfathers (DVD, EGM Films, Unrated)
Jim Hanon’s award-winning documentary completes the trilogy that began with the feature film End of the Spear and focuses on the story of Jesse Saint, grandson of Nate Saint the story of whose death was told in the second film, Beyond the Gates of Splendour. Beginning with Jesse’s reflections, the story soon shifts to the Amazon jungle after Jesse, and his Father Steve, feel moved by God to go and live among the Waodani people, who were responsible for Nate’s death. Told mostly in voiceover, by Jesse and Steve, and featuring interviews with some of the Waodani people, this moving and captivating film beautifully captures Jesse’s spiritual journey as he sees the gospel message of the Grandfather he never met being lived out in the lives of the Waodani and comes to consider them his “Grandfathers”. Particularly touching is the interview with Mincaye, one of those responsible for Nate Saint’s murder, who is now a man transformed by the message of hope brought to the tribe by Saint and the others. Those gruesome events are only briefly touched on and the overall feeling is one of redemption and hope … and the scene of Mincaye on an aeroplane for the first time in his life brings a moment of genuine humour to proceedings. The Grandfathers is relatively short, at just 48 minutes, and all the better for it as nothing ever drags. The soundtrack nicely contrasts the scenes shot in the USA and those shot in Ecuador and there are some interesting graphical touches which probably shouldn’t work as well as they do. The DVD also has some worthwhile extras in the shape of Jim Hanon’s video journal and a behind the scenes video. Overall this one is well worth a look, and it is accessible enough to get into without the benefit of seeing the first two. Recommended.
8/10 David Cooper (May 2012)
GRAPEVINE '99: Preludes to Heaven. (Mayhew : 1490049)
Grapevine is the UK's longest running Christian Bible Week's held,
each year, at the Lincolnshire County Showground. 1999 saw the
18th year of this unique family event which included worship leaders
such as Chris Bowater, Johnny Markin, Dave Middleton, and Trish
Morgan. New songs, like the endearing "Sing A Song For the
Nations", and "Holy Breath of God" are lined up
alongside the much loved "Holy Holy Holy" and "I
Will Never Be". The act of worship comes over really well
and, apart from "Hallelujah Hosanna" the listener can
enjoy over 70 minutes of uninterupted spiritual pleasure. Even
if you didn't attend the festival itself, I'm sure you'll find
this recording inspiring. 9/10. (March 2000)
GRAVE ROBBER : Escaping The Grave. (Rottweiler Records)
Grave Robber have created a fast and furious concept album - aside from the opening, very atmospheric instrumental scene setter, it’s high speed, high energy all the way. The band are solid: riffing where they need to, powerchording and pounding where required, punctuating the chops in the rhythm accurately and together, creating a solid wall of noise that manages to be musical and uplifting without being overpowering. Vocally it’s mostly sung but there is a very dramatic/theatric tone to his voice that conjures up the Damned and Bauhaus. Overall the feel is of the Sex Pistols with Meat Loaf on lead vocals (a combination I found really good). The backing vocals are mostly chanted and fit the themes well, all riding above the band somehow without sounding like they’re fighting to be there. The tracks are all short (4 minutes is an epic for this band) and all last exactly as long as they need to - a credit to the songwriting on display. They’re not a shouty band, despite the punk label. The chorus to “Lips Of Blood” is a good example of this, being very singable (although I doubt Cliff will be covering it any time soon). I’ve not enjoyed a punk album so much for ages and will be looking out for more from this talented bunch. Best track: “Lips Of Blood.” 8/10. Paul Ganney. (November 2019)
GREAT BIG GOD 5 : Ready to Go. (Vineyard Records : VRUKCD31)
It’s been 6 years since the last Great Big God recording, a series which aims to help kids of all ages and backgrounds connect with God. I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never come across either the songwriters or singers anywhere else, other than with these recordings, and that’s a shame as, overall, there are some real highpoints on this album. There’s a Latin feel to the opening ‘Alive’ - sound that will have kids’ toes tapping and hands clapping straight away. ‘Jet Pack’ is all about putting on the device and flying to take God’s light into the dark corners of the world. It’s a nice sentiment, but I’m not sure that age range the song is aimed at, will really get to grips with the theology of the lyrics. But, onto one of those highpoints, and it comes in the shape of an Abba-esque song called ‘Silver Linings’. The chorus features some lovely harmonies, and it’s a song that just begs for radio play. Steve Abley’s ‘I Think About’, is so Coldplay influenced, that I fully expected Chris Martin to start singing, following the piano led introduction. There’s gospel songs, and rap songs on show, as well as a 70’s disco number called ‘No-One Else in Mind’. It’s a song that kids will enjoy dancing to, but for the adult listener, the strained brass sounds were rather piercing. For teenagers, there’s a Vamps style, guitar pop rendition of ‘God is On My Side’, while flop of the album has to be the country hoedown, ‘Going on a Journey’. ‘Real amazing Grace’ made me smile. It’s almost punk rock, played at breakneck speed, and full of energy. Top vocal performance goes to Ali Hider on ‘You’re Always With Me’. “You know my mind, exactly what I’m thinking; You know my dreams, you’re with me when I’m sleeping”. Basically, God is with us everywhere and at all times. There’s a great variety of styles on show here, and enough quality to catch the ear of many a young kid. 8/10. (March 2015)
THE GREATER ALLEN CATHEDRAL : The Worship Experience. (RCA Inspirational : 88765-46912-2)
The record label biography states that The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York is an African Methodist Episcopal church located in Jamaica, Queens, New York. The congregation currently has over 23,000 members, making it one of the largest churches in the United States. Well, with 23,000 members, they must certainly be able to find some find singers amongst them! The album is typical black gospel and, while that isn’t a bad thing, a lot of the songs do sound exactly the same as any other album of the same genre. ‘Greater’ opens things up, and the lead singer shouts and sings for all he’s worth, while the choir back him with angelic voices. ‘Psalm 63’ praises God in a similar fashion and features the weirdest lyric ever; “When I have a fungus, I will praise you.” Asking the Lord to ‘Fill This Place’ is Tamika Smith-Frederick. Just a piano and her silky vocals, make this a sumptuous sound. Delores Bowman takes the lead on ‘Jesus Christ is the Way’. It’s a softer sound than the opening numbers, and I liked this song very much. As well as the main singers, the choir must get a mention for their uplifting backing, especially on ‘Be Glorified’. I didn’t dislike the album, but I just can’t help thinking that there was nothing new, overall, to what’s gone before. Fans of The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir will, no doubt, enjoy this one. 6/10. (December 2013)
GREATER VISION : Quartets. (Daywind : Day1320D)
One of Southern Gospel's most popular trio's have recorded their
latest album, inviting the best bass singers of today and favourites
from yesterday, to join them. The Result? Classic four-part harmony.
Featuring Glenn Dustin of Legacy Five, the opening "He Is
To Me" is a very strong song. It's got the catchy hook, the
said harmonies, and a terrific bass line. "Who can do anything?"
is the question asked in track four, and the answer most certainly
is "Nobody but my Lord". It's a slow number that comes
straight out of the music history books, yet it still sounds as
fresh today. There's a few Southern Gospel albums that have crept
across to the UK over the last few months and, on the whole, I'm
finding them pretty good. However, although there's not a lot
of difference between "City That's Coming Down" and
"He Called Me Out", I did find the former most irritating
and the latter very good! "Just Ask" has a more modern
production than some of the other songs but the great harmonies
are still at the fore. There's something about most of the songs
that I can't quite put my finger on, yet still I can't stop from
joining in with. Southern Gospel sounds as strong and as popular
as it ever was, and that can only be a good thing. 9/10. (June 2003)
THE GREEN STREET THREE : Live at the Jam Session. (4 track CD from 99 Mount Road, Allcrington, Middleton, Manchester, M24 1EZ. £3.50 + 60p P&P.
I must say that I liked this CD right from the start, especially
the first track, which has quite a bit of style variation in it.
In fact the Whole CD has that live energy that you only get from
a self produced recording, (for some reason most record companies
seem think it's necessary to lose this somewhere along the line)
and that doesn't mean that the quality is bad either. On the first
track the singer reminded me a lot of early David Bowie, and there
are some nice guitar licks thrown in there too. The remaining
three tracks rock along quite nicely, although if I were to criticise
I would say that they are maybe a bit too much alike, but then
again there are only four tracks. All in all I think that this
is a good effort, and worth a listen. I noticed that all the artwork
and labelling has been done by the band themselves too. With the
price of blank CD's being so low nowadays making your own CD from
start to finish has never been easier, there must be hundreds
of bands out there who find an outlet this way, perhaps you should
have a look at this CD and get an idea of what is possible.
8/10. Andy Sayner. (July 2002)
In October 2003, Greg Adkins was at a crossroads. He hadn't written a song in nearly three years, and he was on the verge of giving up music altogether. Then one night while walking his dogs, everything changed. "I knew I needed either to give writing a fair chance and really pour myself into it, or else give it up completely. Produced by Andrew Osenga (Caedmon's Call), and featuring guest appearances from Andrew Peterson, Aaron Sands (Jars of Clay), Kenny Hutson (Vigilantes of Love), and Marcus Myers (Silers Bald), it's a thoroughly pleasing mix of acoustic and electric. The song that had the greatest impact on me on first listen is 'Be The Body'; the message is similar to 'If We Are The Body' by Casting Crowns, because it's a plea to folks to take their Christian faith out of the church and into the real world, and use it to make a difference. The other song that hit the spot was 'Are You Out There Tonight', the first of those 52 songs to be written. I've spent a few nights on the road driving long distances, and it can be pretty lonely, so it's comforting to know that there's someone there keeping an eye on things. I've been encouraged and amazed lately to discover so many independent artists making excellent music, and Greg Adkins is one of them. Worth investigating. 8/10 Trevor Kirk (April 2006)
GREG LeFOLLETTE: I’ll Wait For You My Love. (Late Model Leadfoot Music)
The press release describes this as "a strongly themed follow-up to the trailblazing, traditional worship artist Greg LaFollette's 2018 record Songs of Common Prayer and 2019's Holyweek Vol 1" that "reinforces LaFolette's mission to provide congregational worship resources to the Church". With three previous releases to his name, as well as "being involved in more than 100 records in his career" I must confess that Nashville-based Greg LaFolette is a new name to me. Evidently "known for his vulnerable and veracious vocal approach, simple and effective production, and beautiful melodic sense" I can at least confirm that Greg has a pleasant note-perfect voice, that all the lyrics on this 11 track album can be clearly heard, and that these are nicely re-worked hymns rather than simply having the all-too-common tacked-on riffs that don't quite fit! 'Doxology' ("Praise God from whom all blessings flow, sing hallelujah") features nicely delivered female vocal harmonies. In 'The King of Love' a female vocal takes the lead, with equally effective harmonies from Greg and this is one of my 'standouts' - the other being, with its simple and straight forward melody, the nicely produced 'Jesus never fails' with its great 'long chord' intro and effective chorus ("Heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails"). The country gospel 'Never alone' features an earworm chorus ("He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone"). The title track is pleasant but somewhat spoiled by the slightly ponderous drumming that, once noticed, seems to characterise several tracks. Taking everything into account then, whilst the press release builds up expectations of something extraordinary, it's probably fairer to say that here we have a capable 'country gospel feel' album of nicely reworked hymns. Sound quality is also pretty good. I enjoyed it and certainly wish Greg well with his continuing ministry. 8/10. Dave Deeks (May 2020)
GREG LONG : Now. (Myrrh/Epic : 080688605520)
Greg Long's career has brought him six No.1 hit singles, two Dove
Award nominations, and the No.2 CCM Song of the Year, "Love
the Lord". This new release is the first offering I have
ever heard from Mr Long, and I've got to say that it really is
very good. "Sufficiency of Grace" is the first, and
best, track, with a catchy tune and excellent vocals. To me, it
sounds like a hit single all the way. Greg's got a really good
voice and his songs would appeal to Christians and non-christians
alike. "In the Waiting" is another early favourite of
mine but I found "We Dream of a Kingdom" just a bit
monotenous. There are ten songs on the album, all eaasy listening
and, on the whole, most enjoyable. 8/10. Judith Wilson. (May 2001)
GRESHA SCHUILLING : Whispering Hope. (Whispering HOPE Records)
Here we have the first album from this artist, a 'pop rock contemporary worship' independent release. Originally from 2022 and with the past two years resulting in four singles and another full length on the way, it has nevertheless just recently been presented to NFN for review. Born in Colombo Sri Lanka but having been “raised primarily in Jeddah due to her father's professional commitments”, Gresha's background is somewhat unusual – the publicity material acknowledging the influence of her multicultural upbringing. The album features (and shares its cover picture with) Pio Anandappa and Shimron Fernando and is described as “worship based on biblical teachings”. No argument with that approach of course, except that Gresha's lyrics here tend towards a preponderance of well-worn biblical phrases – “I lift up your name in all the earth” is one of several in the otherwise strong opener 'I bring You a sound of worship', and subsequent tracks continue in similar vein. The melodies are simple and enjoyable, although some tend to be musically generic to the point where on first listen I knew where a tune was going before it got there! Undoubtedly Gresha's biggest plus is her powerful and deep contralto voice, bringing a uniqueness to this release that it perhaps otherwise lacks. It is disappointing therefore that the often distorted sound doesn't do her delivery full justice. Sometimes it even masks her lyrics – 'Weight of the cross' is an example, where I try unsuccessfully to decipher a phrase at the beginning of the repeating chorus of this attractive medium-paced song. The title track closes the album and begins with Gresha's spoken personal story, contrasting with the rest of the release in featuring a simple keyboard-led accompaniment. The strongest tracks for me are the already mentioned opener and the upbeat 'Trust', although the latter ends rather suddenly. If Gresha can bring more originality to her songwriting she could be one to watch in future. Perhaps the new album raises the bar in this respect, and I'd like to think it might also be mastered with better sound quality. This one though? 6/10. Dave Deeks. (May 2024)
GRITS : Factors of the Seven. (Gotee/Word : 701-383-3886).
Christian DJ and former HOG person, Lee Jackson, once raved to
me about this band. On this hearing, I can't think why - although
I'm sure he'll tell me. One track plods into another and it's
hard to tell what each singer is saying. There's no lyrics provided
to help and the whole concept is just dull and uninspiring. Three
plays later, I was still getting the headaches! Come on Lee, tell
me different. 1/10. (June 1997)
GROUP 1 CREW : Group 1 Crew (Fervent/Curb : 8868732)
Every now & again you get a bit of a shock when you listen to a CD & wow did I get one with this debut offering from Florida's Group 1 Crew! One quick glance at the extremely polished CD cover shouts "rap", but hold on just a mo. something's missing here. Wot, no hugely chunky bad taste
jewellery? There's got to be something different inside. And how different?! The CD has an extras feature which links you to their website, allowing you to access exclusive wallpapers, lyrics, etc. Anyone that knows me will certify that I really don't do rap, especially with this genre giving credibility & glamour to violence via incomprehensible lyrical rhymes, so I was dreading this but I have to admit I had my ears glued from the start at "Love is a Beautiful Thing" through to "Put Like That" the final track. Group 1 Crew mix styles such as R&B, Rap, Soul & pop which sounds like an unusual recipe, but turns out to be highly addictive addition to the usual musical menu offerings out there. It's loaded with fresh sounding rhythms that have you humming along & tapping
feet from an early stage. The group has been likened to the Black Eyed Peas by some, but not a comparison I would have made - Group 1 Crew can do better than that! "A Lot In Common" and (Everybody's Gotta) Song To Sing had Blanca sounding more like Natasha Bedingfield, with the guys Manwell & Pablo sounding a little Eminem in style but far better in lyrical content & vocal abilities. You could also make comparisons with TBC in track 8 "Clap Your Hands" for the catchy pop rhythms, but my favourite track overall has to be "Forgive Me" (track 6) with a chorus based on Psalm 23,
one which we've heard or read countless times but they lyrics surrounding this give it a touch of modern day realism which is hard to beat. If this is their debut, I can't wait to see what's round the corner. If they make it to the UK some time soon I may be the oldest person in the queue for
tickets!! 9/10 Simon Redfern (October 2007)
GS MEGAPHONE : Out of My Mind. (Spindust : 080688615123).
The vision of American singer Ray Boltz, Spindust Records is a
label for young bands developing ministry that reaches young people.
With that in mind, perhaps I've finally reached middle age. GS
Megaphone are a powerful heavy rock outfit that are a cross between
Linkin Park and Fono. "Uses Me" is such a loud, cacophony
of crashing guitars and drums that it really was painful to endure.
The title track wasn't much better, and I really had to persevere
to listen to the complete album. One thing I can say about the
songs is that throughout the album, the clear word of God is being
spoken and, if this type of music appeals to you, then go for
it. For me, I couldn't get on with it at all. In all honesty,
I would find it hard to pick the best track - simply because there
isn't one. Maybe it's time this reviewer sat in his rocking chair
and had another cup of tea. 1/10. (September 2001)
THE GUARDIANS : Packin’ Up. (Stow Town Records)
The Guardians have claimed their place as one of America’s favourite Southern Gospel trios with their recent hits “Somebody Prays,” “Shoutin’ Sounds,” “Let the Healing Begin” and many others. Group members, Neil Uhrig, John Darin Rowsey, and Dean Hickman, are committed to glorifying the name of our Lord through song. Their collective mission is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, to sing songs that minister to people’s hearts and touch their lives. This latest single shows the band in full flight with an uptempo number that will soon have you tapping your feet. There’s banjo sounds, guitars, a driving rhythm and a full orchestra backing which all go to compliment the band’s tight harmonies. The lively chorus says “I’ve got my sword; I’ve got my shield; I’ve got my ticket that is signed and sealed.” It’s all about being ready for your journey with Christ, and it’s well delivered. As I write, the song is already climbing the US gospel charts and is bound to be another big hit for The Guardians. 8/10. (February 2017)
THE GUARDIANS : It’s Still Good News. (Stow Town Records)
Dean Hickman, John Darin Rowsey, Pat Barker and Scott Mullins, collectively known as The Guardians, are a southern gospel quartet with a unique sound, tight harmony and a passion for sharing the gospel through their music. And, as I’ve come to know over the last few years, groups like The Guardians provide some of the best vocals that you could wish for. Contemporary music fans might pigeon-hole this music as “old fashioned.” Well, I’d like to pint those people to the history of southern gospel, as well as the number of new bands of that genre coming out of America. Thus, proving how popular this type of music is. This album has ballads, foot tappin’ numbers, and mid-tempo ditties, which are all enjoyable. The opening “Holy is Thy name” is rather a slow song to start things off, but the following “I Wish I Could Tell You” really bounces along. There’s a great trumpet sound accompanying “Just to Know,” which I really liked! Mind you, I can’t fault the rest of the music either. Whether these guys are belting out the title track or caressing each word of the smooth and relaxing “Someone to Care,” its classy stuff throughout. Yes, The Guardians are on top form from start to finish. 9/10. (January 2021)
THE GUARDIANS : Come On In. (Daywind Records)
The Guardians are a southern gospel quartet with a unique sound, tight harmony and a passion for sharing the gospel through their music. With three Dove Award nominations, multiple #1 songs and Fan Awards, the Lord has blessed the Guardians Quartet with an incredible journey since their inception. First up, is the title track of the album. As you’d expect, it’s a fast paced number that invites everyone to ‘Come on In’ to the house of the Lord. ‘What You Can’t Remember’ is a lovely song that flows gently along, while there’s a distinct “bounce” to ‘He’ll Move Heaven and Earth.’ The latter is a simple message of how much God loves you, and should be a sure-fire radio hit. Vocally, these guys are first class, whether singing lead or those, aforementioned, tight harmonies. ‘Rest in Him’ is a smooth track that I can imagine listening to at the end of the day. In similar style, ‘He Grew the Tree’ is quite moving, as the group focus on Calvary. The final track has a little ‘barbershop quartet’ feel to it, with some light guitar work and brass sounds throughout. ‘Surely He Did’ is a joyful ditty, which brought a smile to my face as it played. Once more, The Guardians present a really polished recording. 8/10. (November 2022)
GUNGOR : Ghosts Upon the Earth. (Brash Music/Kingsway : 881410007625)
Well, if you’re fed up of the usual worship tunes that come your way, this album will give you something to think about. I guess, if it were a painting, it would be classed as “abstract” – it’s quite out of the box. Gungor primarily consist of Michael and Lisa Gungor, and the title of this new album is, apparently, inspired by the famous novel by CS Lewis, entitled ‘The Great Divorce’. Lisa’s wistful vocals take centre stage on the opening ‘Let There Be’ which, I understand is all about creation. Sadly, no lyric sheet is included and the option to download them from the website has yet to be successful. ‘Crags and Clay’ is a duet with some rather refrained vocals, while ‘The Fall’ contains some pleasant acoustic guitar work in, what is, a melodic folk song. Electric guitars seem to be few and far between, but they are included in the 60’s sounding ‘Wake Up Sleeper’. As an alternative to the run of the mill worship, I found difficulty in using any of the songs to worship but I guess that is the challenge Gungor are offering. As a song, there is a quite beautiful duet called ‘You Are My Heart’ and I’ll be playing that song again.With orchestral pads filling a lot of the songs, the banjo and fiddles on ‘You Are the Beauty’ rests a little out of place in the track listing, with it’s dis-jointed make up, that spoils any enjoyment. Experiemental? Yes, but it didn’t work for me. 5/10 (February 2012)
GURRUMUL : The Gospel Album. (Skinnyfish Music : SFGU150803)
Gurrumul (or Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu to give him his full name) is an artist that comes with some notable endorsements. Rolling Stone Magazine declared him as “Australia’s Most Important Voice” in 2011, his first two albums are triple platinum and platinum respectively and it is said he holds Elton John and Sting amongst his fans. So this, his third album, is not to be taken lightly and is released with high expectations. The style and approach will be familiar to those who already know Gurrumul’s music, but this album focuses on gospel songs and hymns some of which come from his own Elcho Island community. If you do not know already, Geoffrey’s Aboriginal roots feature heavily in his music and he sings, not in English, but in Yolgnu. This creates a mystery and ethereal aura to the music which is further enhanced by Gurrumul’s unusual tenor voice. The opener “Jesu” is perhaps the strongest song on the album, simply constructed and memorable as a result. Not surprisingly this has already had a single release with the video available on You Tube. Most of the songs have that traditional praise and worship feel to them, reminiscent of choruses from the 70s and 80s. This is evident in songs like “Garray Jesu” and “Hallelujah” – modest and catchy and as a result, straightforward and effective. Gurrumul’s music is always unpretentious and it feels right at home in this context. However, this unsophisticated and nostalgic feel may not be to everyone’s taste, particularly with those with an ear for something more contemporary. Sometimes you do have to remind yourself that Gurrumul is a major artist, rather than a grassroots one, which is the impression you could get from this album if you were none the wiser. However, I wouldn’t bet against this becoming another platinum release. 6/10 Robin Thompson (September 2015)
GUVNA B : Everywhere & Nowhere. (Allo Mate Records)
This new album from UK rapper Guvna B features his latest single 'Battle, a song looks back at what’s happened since his last release.' A number of special guests are included on several tracks, including Wretch 32, Travis Greene, Barney Artist, Ezra Collective and TSB. I’ve really got to try hard and forget my personal distain for this sort of music, and look beyond those thoughts. I got the feeling very early that a lot of the songs tell a story of pain, or fighting against a bad upbringing. Certainly, his prayers on “Cushty” against ‘the hood’ seems to confirm this. “Mazza” has lyrics which tell of bloodshed and killings. Now, I’m not sure if these things have happened in Guvna B’s neighbourhood, but he sings of bring sure that this is where Gpod wants him to be. Musically, I enjoyed the slight change in style with the addition of Wretch 32 and some nice, melodic vocals. My ears pricked up when voices began to sing Matt Redman’s “You Never Let Go.” But, Guvan B soon takes charge again, and raps majestically in praise of his Lord. So, what did I take from this release? Well, lyically, Guvna B sounds as if he’s got the world on his shoulders. I don’t know the guy but, perhaps, he has had to fight because he comes from “the wrong side of town.” The last similar release I reviewed was by the Social Misfits Club. I’m pleased to say that “Everywhere & Nowhere” is much better. 6/10. (May 2020)
GUY PENROD : Blessed Assurance. (Gaither Music)
Former lead singer for the Gaither Vocal Band, Guy Penrod is a multi-award winning artist. Guy chose these hymns because of their power to touch and renew your soul. This album reflects his signature personality while spotlighting Guy’s unmistakable rich tones and country-influenced style that graced stages and attracted audiences from The Grand Ole’ Opry and The Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall. These fresh arrangements invite listeners to sing along to timeless lyrics of eternal truth and hope. Songs range from the gentle rendition of the album’s title track, to the uptempo, foot tapping “There is Power in the Blood.” Indeed, Guy’s vocals slip seamlessly from one song to the next. There’s a Celtic touch to “Before the Throne of God Above,” but his best performance comes on “The Love of God.” Again, I can’t fault his vocals. They are excellent. The guitar sounds are also very good. Whether they be acoustic, electric, or slide, the sound fits each song well. I wasn’t too keen on “Standing in the Need of Prayer,” but highlights included “In the Sweet By and By” and the prayerfully sung “I Surrender All.” 9/10. (September 2019)
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