STYLE: Roots/Acoustic RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 131007-19638 LABEL: Kevin Mayhew 1490431 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £12.99
Reviewed by Paul McKay
The latest album from the veteran singer/songwriter and social activist has been dubbed "protest worship" and the song "He Broke The Rules" directs our gaze to the revolutionary nature of God's raw love, flouting the rules and changing the people he met. "That's Why We're Here" has a Paul Simon feel to it thanks to its 'Graceland'-style rhythms and is a joyful reminder that we're here to carry each other's burdens. The protest angle returns with the stripped back sound of the title track as Garth shares his heart to unite under God with the aim for his power to release justice to all who need it. The songsmith's passion to see God's love expressed in tough places rings loud and clear in "One Of Us" while "Let Justice Roll" sounds like a sequel to Norman's "Readers Digest" as he targets the West for its attitude to the weak and helpless. Garth brings a gentle country feel as he asks us to "be the hands of Jesus" before leading a rallying cry to God in "Dance On Injustice" (written before Delirious? ever cut their teeth). "Pray For Your Sister" is another challenge to the listener to start doing something to show our commitment to God's view of love by praying and standing with our sisters and brothers in trouble. A second reminder to Mr Norman appears with the haunting piano of "Jesus Of The Scars" as Garth paints a picture of grace only seen in the suffering of Christ. The closing track has almost a Band Aid approach (minus the endless streams of celebrities) as Hewitt hopes for the Kingdom to gather the broken of the world.
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