Reviewed by Tim Holden

If you've been following Amanda's music on Cross Rhythms down the years, you know that she started off as Amanda Falk, gained big success with Bethel Music as Amanda Cook, and is now using her married name, Amanda Lindsey Cook. It has been a while since this most gifted of singer/songwriters has released a solo album - four years, in fact - and this one required a fair bit of time for the listener to fully appreciate everything it has to offer. This is not the full bore Bethel Music worship experience, but a much more ambient pop exploration of grace, forgiveness, growth and the worship which results from these things. The opening track "Awakening" sets the scene well, starting with sparse piano and percussion with Amanda's ethereal vocals wafting over them while it slowly builds then jumps up a gear with an almost screaming band running at full throttle with Amanda's voice striding commandingly over it all - pattern followed elsewhere with tracks like "Love Never Fails" and "I Am - Because You Are". There is plenty of space for quiet thought with piano-led tracks such as the gorgeous "House On A Hill", "The Clearing" and "Water Under The Bridge" and then there are some other tracks that will benefit from many repeats as they slowly reveal their truth, such as "Evergreen" and "Comforter". As stated earlier, this is not a bounce around worship album, but a reflection of God's tender hand on the life of a believer. It requires repeated plays for all of its artistry to come to light, but will reward all those prepared to take the journey with Amanda.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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