Review:

Journey: Walking the way of Christ

Take a major Christian event, add six worship teams led by both veterans and rising stars, bring out a double CD and what have you got? A major anti-climax. Even with 21 tracks, only Tim Hughes and Graham Kendrick specifically engage with the theme. The rest is so lacklustre that often it deflates, rather than inspires. Bizarre track order, inconsistent sound mix and generic material don’t help.

Hughes is consistently strong in writing, performance and inspiring worship. Elsewhere you can find thoughtful lyrics (Vicky Beeching), strong tunes (‘Friend of God’) and a sense of worship (Beeching, Kendrick), but rarely at the same time or regularly from the same worship leader. Possibly the best track is ‘Amazing Grace’ sung a cappella by everyone. Perhaps you had to be at Spring Harvest, but nostalgia is not the soundest reason to buy a praise CD. This is dated, dull, disjointed, and frankly unnecessary. Those who want the best of this without the rest should try Hughes’ live Happy Day CD/DVD set.

HIGH: Tim Hughes’ reverent ‘Consuming Fire’ stands head and shoulders above most here.

LOW : Ben Cantelon’s opener typifies the formulaic approach to worship.

Published by: Spring Harvest