Reviewed by Tom Gould

If Paul Poulton underwent a course of hormones, smoked (I'm not really suggesting this!) 40 extra high tar cigarettes each hour, shaved his head, wrote really serious and boring songs, then he might move away from the unfortunate "English Larry Norman" tag. Let's just say that they listened to the same music as they grew up! Having witnessed him in concert a few years ago, I expected an album of songs which would amuse for a few plays and lay on the shelf until a new friend needed impressing with a Christian artist who was genuinely funny. However, I found this album quite compulsive listening. Having listened to the first side of the review cassette, I flipped it over to play the other side, then I played the first side again and went on to play the reverse for a second time, etc. Yes, I was impressed. There is the collection of wryly observed, go for the 'religious' jugular, songs, but these are finely balanced with songs of substance and reflection like "Pain Is A Lonely Path To Travel" and "Give Me Love" (with it's surprising refrain). There is also diversity in the music that is far broader than the cover suggests, at the first play I anticipated a series of acoustic guitar tracks, but Mr Poulton moves through R&B, funk, reggae and country blues with apparent ease. The letter that came with this review copy states that Paul Poulton is about to go out on the road, so I suggest that you buy the album, book the band and ask him to play "I Don't Agree With That" as a request for your favourite elder/deacon/DCC member!

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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