Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The genius of Matt of course is that with every album he finds new ways of expressing old, old truths and with his winning way with lilting melody gives us all more vehicles through which to enter the holy of holies. This new album, recorded during his sojourn in California, has its fair share of gems. Take "Wonderful Maker", co-written with Chris Tomlin, with its memorable opening stanzas "You spread out the skies over empty space/Said 'Let there be light'/To a dark and formless world your light was born/You spread out your arms over empty hearts/Said 'Let there be light'/To a dark and hopeless world your Son was born." Or there's the achingly poignant "When My Heart Runs Dry" that begins with the question how can we worship when there is "...no holy melody/No words of love within" but finds reality by recalling "the height from which this fragile heart has slipped." There are one or two songs here you'll know already, like the joyful "Lord, Let Your Glory Fall" (you know, the one with that "You are good, you are good, and your love endures" hook) while the production by Dwayne Larring and Jason Halbert (now using the pseudonym Rythmic) is less in-your-face rock 'n' roll and more muted acoustic pop than on some of their other outings. If you've got previous Redman classics and are wondering whether the songsmith can still work his magic, march into your local bookshop and ask to hear "Befriended". Its insightful images and poignant lilt will surely touch your heart.

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