I have faced dilemmas in where to focus my attention for the review. Dave Fitzgerald is, without doubt, a gifted and anointed worship leader - the worship sounds lively, there is a lot of congregational interaction, and the worship flows freely, with lots of "headroom" given in all of the songs to allow space for people to worship. Dave is also an unquestionably gifted singer. His voice is powerful, powerful enough to lead with backing vocalists such as Jenn Johnson (see previous reviews) backing him, and to lead a Bethel congregation in worship. Dave is clearly an accomplished pianist, and he leads well from the piano - something slightly different for Bethel where the focus for the leaders I have encountered thus far is often from vocals or guitars.  Lastly, Dave is a gifted songwriter - all but one of these songs were self-penned, with some collaborations (including Chris McClarney (Your Love Never Fails) and Brian Johnson (Worship Pastor at Bethel Church, Redding)). So where to focus?

If the aim of this album is more good worship from a thriving church of revivalists and worshippers, then this album ticks all the boxes straight off. The worship is accessible, reverent, powerful and meaningful, and many of the songs on this album would be equally at home on any Jesus Culture album. Where this album comes into it's own, however, is at track 5 - "We Are An Ark". The feel of this track is awesome - laid back yet not restrained, strong yet not overwhelming. Here we see all of the gifts of the band laid plain for the world to see. The sensitive nature of Dave's piano and vocal, Jenn Johnson's succinct backing vocals, Ian McIntosh's ethereal keys and Chris Quilala's drums that provide the catalyst for the build up to the climax of this song make it what it is - great. This track provides the turning point  of the album for me - and switches the focus from all of the ancillary factors and theories and places the attention squarely to the Throne of the Lord, and to His glory. Here the album becomes personal, natural, sensitive and glorious. It is here where I "got" this album.

The title track "Hope of Heaven" provides a sublime mix of Jesus Culture and Dave Fitzgerald. The driving drum and bass groove, with the ethereal keys and edgy guitars usually associated with Jesus Culture are interspersed perfectly with a subtle yet very effective piano part from Dave - giving this track it's edge. The album finishes with another 2 nice piano-led tracks - "Shine" (w/ Brian Johnson), and "Sweeter" (w/ Christa Black and Chris McClarney). Once again, we find space, freedom, and subtlety in the piano lines - it's uncomplicated yet more than enough for the atmospheric nature of the songs - which provide a great platform on which the songs can build - which they do to great effect. 

I must confess that it took me a few tracks to work this album out, but now I have it is making it's way steadily up my "most played" playlist. I love piano-led worship, it is for some reason more of a rarity in modern worship, but when it is done this well it is a joy to experience. Buy this album, you will not regret it.

You can find more information about Dave at www.davefizgerald.com