Reviewed by Tony Cummings

RiverDeep have almost become the Cross Rhythms festival house band down the years so there are already thousands out there who'll know that this band, with their pop rock sound with acid jazz trace elements and a girl singer able to soar like an eagle across funky backbeats or hard guitar riffing, are something very special. Now at last one of the British record companies has awakened from its slumber and signed RiverDeep and their debut album will be in every UK record shop by the time you read this. It's everything we could have hoped for. "Take Me Shake Me" is a hooky prayer to God, to be moulded and shaped; "This Is Love", a worship song of transcendent love; while "Crucify", in two parts, describes the central event of our universe as the band ask the listener whether we still wound Jesus with our lukewarm devotion. There's even a tasty new version of "Millennium Falling", the song they first recorded on an independent EP a while back. Throughout, Esther's vocals are top notch while brother Sam takes over the vocal mic on "Free", a funky, hooky track that uncannily reminded this anorak of Mukala, that great US band who made one album then disbanded. Not that these guys will betaking a quick bus back to Obscurity City. Having paid their dues with years of grassroots gigs they're clearly here for the long haul. If you're a long time admirer of RiverDeep's exceptional ministry or a brand new Christian bookshop browser, get your cheque book out for 'Someone Like Me'. As Word's Premier enthused, "Flying the flag for hip 'n' happening music, RiverDeep pack a musical punch and a ministry heart that is destined to see the band make a major impact. 'Someone Like Me' is just the first step.'lf you want to quibble you could say it's something like the 23rd step. But whatever, RiverDeep's momentum continues forward.

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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