[ cross rhythms magazine ]

 

Writer: Tony Cummings

www.crossrhythms.co.uk

[ review of 'out of the ordinary' ]

Those dreadfully tepid albums of the '90s are now thankfully a distant memory and the elder statesman of modern worship here delivers a new studio album every bit as affecting as the young turks who for awhile made him look and sound like a tired anachronism. Writing songs with other songwriters is a hearteningly humble act for a songsmith who's written as many stone classics by himself as any other living worship songwriter, and it's paid off big time here. Graham's collaborations with America's Paul Baloche "Creation's King" and "What Can I Do" are both gems while his songs with guitar maestro Dan Wheeler, that master of modern hymnody Stuart Garrard and onehundredhours' rocker Tre Sheppard all have their moments. Then there is some superlative production from Julian Kindred, the man who oversaw Delirious?' 'World Service', not to mention a bv from Martin Smith and some tasty slide guitar by Stuart Garrard on "Creation's King". Is there a new Kendrick classic here which will circle the globe to impact tens of thousands of churches? I've no idea. But I do know that this album from the worship veteran is far from ordinary.

8/10