Reviewed by Tony Cummings

As many are now recognising this has become a golden age for modern worship and much of the creative and spiritual progress that this movement has made over the last five years has been due to the internationally influential work of the group of singers, instrumentalists and songwriters originally based in Redding but now successfully ensconced in Sacramento. What is impressive about Jesus Culture albums is that they have maintained such a high creative standard, never allowing the pressure to deliver a new set of songs to weaken their resolve to present the Church with music which has a prophetic edge and a real sense of God speaking to those who love him. On their first live set for a while each of Jesus Culture's singer/songwriters present quality new songs, Chris Quilala with a surging "Halls Of Heaven", Kim Walker-Smith with the haunting title track and the stirring "Let Our Faith Become A Mountain" and Bryan Torwalt with "Sound Of Adoration". There are also impressive contributions from Chris McClarney, Ruthie Ridley and Jon Egan. With worship albums I have stopped trying to guess which song, if any, will circle the globe and become a world Church hit but I must admit I have a gut feeling there are a couple here where that is likely. In recent times some critics have suggested that Jesus Culture's production sound with its drawn out passages on which their singers may or may not sing prophetically and extensive use of quiet part-loud part-quiet part dynamics make their albums "samey". To me though, they have found a wonderful way of engaging our emotions and leading us into the throne room.

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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