Reviewed by Ewan Jones

Soul Water is duo MC Daniel Moore and singer Lindsay Justice from Georgia and five years into their musical partnership comes this, their second album. If the lyrical inspiration for their first album was positivity borne from finding Jesus through troubled times then the songs here aren't breaking any new ground - but that's no bad thing. Themes like making the most of hard situations, trusting and turning to Jesus for guidance, learning from mistakes, making positive choices and celebrating freedom and justice abound. Like much Christian music that is derivative rather than leading the way, it straddles the fine line between authentic and cheesy, sometimes leaning too close to the latter. But that's okay bearing in mind that the aim is to feel good, enjoy the music and understand the message; which in fairness, doesn't leave much room for grimy beats, minor keys or self-pitying introspection. The songs are upbeat and memorable - Moore's rhymes are clear, uncompromising and well written - Justice has a strong voice and has no problem delivering the vocal hooks. It has a poppy sound, polished and well produced, but won't have mainstream hip-hop acts losing any sleep. As with their previous release, Soul Water's priority is sharing the Christian message and seeking exposure to a mainstream crowd rather than trying to impress hardcore purists. Perhaps it could do with a bit more attitude - some grittier beats or dirtier production - but it's hard to fault the group's heart.

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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