Music - Contemporary artists
 We Shall not be Shaken - Matt Redman
Twelve new songs from the popular singer/songwriter including This is how we know, We shall not be shaken, You alone can Rescue, The Glory of Our King, How Great is your faithfulness and a communion song, Remembrance.
Promised Land - Lou Fellingham
 The lead singer with Phatfish has been involved in many Christian events and featured on albums by Matt Redman and Stuart Townend
This is Lou’s second album of new inspiring worship songs .The melodies are memorable and the arrangements skilful. Lou’s voice is distinctive, coping with acoustic ballads as well as the more full on rocky numbers. This album is a winner.
Holding Nothing Back – Tim Hughes
 As its title suggests, this album is all about ‘Holding Nothing Back’. Described by some as being ‘manly’, this collection of new songs by Tim Hughes focuses more on expressing awe and wonder, and less about love. Indeed, these newer songs may be more popular among those male Christians who find it unnatural to ‘sing love songs to Jesus’, and prefer to focus on his power and might.
This is perhaps some of the most upbeat music Tim has written. It is a very passionate album, with a driving bass
Songs like ‘Living for your glory’, and ‘God of Justice’ encourage worship not only with words, but with actions too, while ‘The Highest and Greatest’, and ‘Almighty God’ praise the character of God. However, above all, the album captures a sense of hope, and the joy that springs from that hope. ‘Happy Day’, ‘Out of the Darkness’ and ‘Holding Nothing Back’, the title track, express joy in being ‘free now, forever’, and inspire us to give our everything to the One who gave His everything for us.
‘Holding Nothing Back’ comes with a bonus DVD featuring interviews, and song writing tips, among other things!
Great God who Saves - Laura Story
 “Indescribable” was a big hit for Chris Tomlin in 2004, but now you can hear the original version written and sung by Laura Story in her debut album Great God who Saves.
Her songs have an acoustic pop feel to them with strong lyrics and melodies which combine statements of truth with a personal response. A few lines from the song Grace illustrate this:-"The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary So instead of trying to repay You I'm learning to simply obey You By giving up my life to You for all that You've given to me."
“Mighty to save” by Hillsongs is the only song not written by Laura. Several songs lend themselves to personal or group worship. There are subtle echoes of some of Amy Grant’s early songs and, interestingly, Amy provides some of the background vocals.
This is an album that has the potential for touching deep places within you and inspiring you to “to gaze deeper and stay longer and to press onward to know” the Lord. (from the track There is nothing). Very highly recommended - The best album I have heard for a long time. I am tempted to buy one for everyone I know!!!
The final track “Perfect Peace” gently ministers to the wounded and is earthed in reality. “…though I may not calm the storms around you, you can hide in me…Stay close by my side …Keep your eyes on me ….Let me bear your load ‘cause I will give you perfect peace.”
Review by Marguerite Williams
All That Matters –Jonathan Veira
 Eclectic, chocolate voiced opera singer Jonathan Veira continues to dip in and out of the CCM scene with jazz and blues influenced albums. All That Matters is his best yet. Opening with the cheeky gospel of Show A Little Mercy, it goes on to yet another version of Redman’s Blessed Be Your Name. The title track All That Matters, is a gorgeous Elton John-esque ballad about the certainty of Jesus in a transient world. Silky trumpet from Raul D’Oliveira drips over the liquid bass and Zero 7 funk of In The Calm and Love Song, the music matching the tranquillity of the lyrics, and the lyrical high point is the beautiful, politically tinged flag-waver Only A Dream, about Christ bringing true peace in our time. Producer Neil Costello wisely stands back from a singer and band clearly enjoying themselves. The album is split roughly into two parts; after the smoky atmosphere of the first half the second half focuses more on straightforward worship to match anything by Graham Kendrick, reflecting two sides of this worshipper/performer. This is one of the coolest albums of the year.
Treasure - Lou Fellingham
 Fans of the band Phatfish and regulars at the Stoneleigh Bible Conferences will already be familiar with the voice of Lou Fellingham, here embarking on her first solo project.
Her voice has the same kind of wistful quality as that of Natalie Imbruglia or Leigh Nash and it’s married perfectly to the acoustic rock grooves by producer Busbee on this outstanding worship album. The songs, mostly penned by Lou and Nathan Fellingham, are packed with theology and have far more depth than the standard “God you're great” lyrics that seem to afflict many worship albums of late. Indeed, she seems to have her sights set on being the next Graham Kendrick and with instant Sunday morning classics like Build This House and the title track, Treasure, she is well on the way to doing just that. The music has a similar feel to Nikki Rogers and Nichole Nordeman, unfussy but perfectly executed with just the right amount of ambition in the arrangements. The outstanding track for this reviewer is Hard Pressed, with it’s lyrics of faith in adversity great vocal performance and infectious tune.
Expect to be singing many of these songs in a church near you.
David Gate - Unapproachable Light
 David Gate first appeared on the Soul Survivor People’s albums and as a worship leader at New Wine and Summer Madness. Following on from his EP Redemption this is his first full album. Similar in style to Tim Hughes and Matt Redman, it is also well plugged in to secular acts like Blur, The Kaiser Chiefs and Coldplay. The tone throughout is one of worship. Songs like the catchy All The Kings Will Bow (which has a vocal hook that sounds for all the world like Adam and the Ants), the soaring Extravagant Magnificent, Teach Me To Love Like Jesus Loved (a cross between Blur and Air), the Kaiser Chiefs-esque Hands On The Cross (which has the best bass hook in a worship song for years, and also features Cathy Burton on guest vocals) and the Robbie Williams-like Shout Of The Nations are all songs you could sing in church (Extravagent Magnificent is surely destined to be sung up and down the land). Lyrically these focus on adoration, the mystery of God and Jesus’ sacrifice. Other more performance based tracks like The Waiting, the visceral Cry Out In The Night and the almost chilling Killing Hill have the kind of majestic melancholy to be found in the music of Jeff Bukley and Coldplay, giving them an air of reverence that lends itself to their themes of yearning and God’s love. So what we have here is that rare thing; a full on worship album that is sonically diverse enough to sit comfortably on anyone’s home stereo, and has songs that could well become classics to boot. Perhaps an early candidate for Christian album of 2006 from an artist to watch.
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