Reviewed by Gareth Paul Taylor

An impressive studio album from the lady best known as worship pastor/leader/songwriter with Australia's favourite megachurch Hillsong. The trademark Hillsong strings and choral arrangements are here aplenty, plus soaring praise, eg, "Glorify Your Name", and Michael W Smith's "Agnus Dei" majestically closing the album. But this is actually quite a different animal from a Hillsong set, showcasing a refreshingly different side of Darlene. A major factor is co-producer David Holmes' songwriting collaboration with Zschech on all but two of the tracks. Wayne Huirua of New Zealand's The Parachute Band also contributes. If you are mainly acquainted with Zschech the songwriter, be prepared to encounter Zschech the diva par excellence, especially on the title track where the subtle gracefulness yet wide dramatic scope of her voice compares favourably with Celine Dion. Sequentially the two centre-most tracks also carry the album's thematic centre, revealing Darlene's heart and best exemplifying her pop capabilities. We have the guitar-driven, hook-laden "Never Give Up" with the words "Faded dreams need to be recoloured.it's time to dream again/Write it down my friend." Then a vocal overhang with attitude gives way to the contrasting mood of the epic title track, a cinematic ballad surely destined for a film soundtrack! "Breathe again and know/To hope is never wrong/Change your world". Highly recommended.

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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