Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Mike Farris was a bit of a rock'n'roll casualty having lived on the edge of mainstream success with enough of a taste for the lifestyle to become an addict. His journey has been difficult having spent most of his adult life as an addict and even after becoming a Christian he still struggled with his addictions. These days he is two years clean and devoting his talents to making a solo album that reflects his faith. When I met him in America, I told him we were calling him a New Traditionalist and he liked that description. Basically what he has done is grab together a handful of great musical influences, old time gospel, blues and a splash of New Orleans. He has also gathered together a collection of his own songs and a smattering of traditional numbers to create a stunning album. Oh yeah, and he's employed the vocal services of Ann McCrary who adds a heap of gospel soul to the whole thing. To top the whole lot Farris's own powerhouse vocals more than hold their own in this environment and despite the age of his influences, something very modern comes out of it all. Listen to the wailing horn on the traditional "Oh Mary Don't You Weep" or enjoy the urgent Stax sound of "Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down" and you'll realise for sure that this is the real deal. Other highlights include the opening haunting gospel of "Sit Down Servant" with its New Orleans influences and the brilliance of his own "Selah! Selah!" which is reminiscent of mid '70s Staples Singers. The surprising fact that he is signed to INO Records makes me wonder how the label will sell this album since this isn't exactly their normal fare. I'm glad they've been adventurous enough to take the album on and Mike Farris is a rough diamond in the polished world of Christian pop. Boy! Has he got soul though! This is an incredible album.

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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