Reviewed by Matthew Cordle

This 2016 CD is the first in a new 'Voices' live recording series from Gateway Church, presenting original audio recordings of songs from the church's worship services, packaged along with a DVD containing sheet music, chord charts and lyric videos - these presented in click-track, split-track and full mix audio versions. This release features Kari Jobe as both singer and songwriter, comprising 10 songs from five of Gateway Live's albums and one song, "My Beloved", from her debut studio album. Kari's powerful, emotive voice and her uplifting songs have deservedly gained huge exposure in the church around the world over the last few years. However, this is very much a team effort, not a solo showcase, with songwriting from other church colleagues such as Walker Beach, as well as Jennie Lee Riddle's "Revelation Song", one of the most powerful songs Kari ever recorded. There's a good balance of lively and reflective songs and, given the nature of this collection, every song could be seen as a highlight, but to highlight three in particular: the opening "No Sweeter Name" really typifies the intimacy of many of Kari's songs, "Alabaster Jar" is a soul-bearing song of sacrifice in response to Jesus' giving of himself, and "Worship The Great I Am" really takes off in celebratory worship (both Walker Beach songs). On a technical note, whoever mastered the CD ticked the box to add a 2-second pause between tracks, messing up the edited continuity that was obviously meant to exist between some tracks. No-one noticed this before it went to replication?! That aside, an excellent collection of songs.

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