Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Edinburgh-based singer/songwriter Clive Parnell here teams up with the Foundry Music Lab production crew of Sandy Jones and Graeme Duffin to offer up an accomplished piece of work that has been released to help raise awareness for the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) aid charity. Together with additional help from renowned songwriter David Lyon on keys and in-demand Scottish drummer Brian MacLeod, Parnell's trademark rich vocals and his unfussy guitar playing helps make some already great songs shine that bit brighter whilst making sure that the subtly-communicated message of hope through Christ seeps through at every turn. Proceedings start at a fair lick with the upbeat title track leading into the equally driving "Help" and "I Will Reach You" which all echo the work of MAF in bringing practical hope to vulnerable communities in hard-to-reach third world areas before settling down to a slower and more contemplative set that showcases both Parnell's knack of writing deep songs without ever being maudlin and an innate ability to perform such pieces with a genuine and heartfelt conviction that makes for a poignant listen. Cases in point include the tender "Always Be There" and the on-theme "Fly Away" which, together with the rest of the release, sees Parnell delicately and simultaneously reflect the work of his chosen charity, a call for justice in the world and hope through Christ - all wrapped up in what is an enjoyable and thought-provoking release.

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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