Reviewed by Jonathan Cairns

Sharon Baker is the wife of Trevor Baker, and they are based at Dudley and are involved in the current Outpouring, which has presumably given birth to this album. Don't judge this album by its cover, which looks as if it contains choir-heavy classical compositions. This music harks back to the turn-of-the-millennium Vineyard era, complete with sound loops, melodic piano work and guitar solos. And despite a few cases of under-production the album works extremely well. Sharon has a very obvious talent for songwriting, clearly understanding what makes a beautiful melody, and how to couple that with meaningful, godly lyrics. This is evident on pretty much any track, but a few stand out: the atmospheric "Here I Wait" sounds like it could be a strong track from a Phatfish album; the contemplative "Worthy Is The Lamb" is moving in both words and sound; and the poppy "If You Believe" makes you want to sing along before you know any of the words. Sharon's voice suits the environment very well and has a slight quirkiness to it which makes it interesting and immediately distinguishable. I look forward to her future output, and wholly recommend 'Heavenly Encounters' to anyone who is looking for fresh worship music.

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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