Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

The Northern Irish singer/songwriter recorded this 2013 album while spending a year in North Carolina and this uplifting release is chock full of delightfully rootsy originals that find our man lifting praises to God in his own inimitable style. Kicking off in typical in-your-face fashion, the stomping title track sees the experienced troubadour invite the Holy Spirit in with gusto whilst equally upbeat numbers like "Sing Sing Sing" and "Put A New Song On My Lips" prove that worship music is not limited to the default styles that the Bethels and Hillsongs of this world have employed for years. The liner notes suggest returning to the territory of worship music came as something of a surprise to Houston but it's evident that he's having a lot of fun with his characteristic high octane vocal taking centre stage for the most part before turning in the most tender of performances in intimate songs like "Red Carpet Of Love" and "You Are Mystical". As ever, there is a delightfully boxy feel to proceedings with Houston keeping things fairly acoustic and unadorned whilst some lovely little moments like a drum solo in "God Is Always Good (Lion Of Judah)", the title track's disco/funk bass line and some gorgeous harmonies here and there help make Houston's fairly straightforward songs of vertical praise shine. It's hard to imagine any of these songs being sung in a congregational setting - perhaps they were never designed to be more than an expression of personal devotion by Houston - but this remains a stirring and emotive listening experience.

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