(Firstly, a quick word about the photo, it is my daughter Erin (now nearly 5), being held in my arms at just a few days old. As soon as I saw the title for this album I sensed an opportunity to use a photo I’ve long regarded as my favourite photo of my beautiful little girl. Huge thanks go to Will Taylor for editing the photo for me to make it more suitable for the job. Check out more of his photos and articles at http://www.bigdaddywhale.com)

As part of a growing relationship with Innes Johnston from eatacd.com, a Christian media distribution organisation based in Scotland, I am doing a few reviews of independent worship albums in their catalogue. In the first of these, we find Petey Allan’s The Father’s Arms - a punchy, primarily guitar-led album with strong, catchy vocal lines.

The album starts with two very approachable up-tempo guitar songs - “My Soul”, and “You’re the One I Love”. A great characteristic of these tracks for me is the thought that has gone into their arrangements. Far from simply being all-out rockers, with overly complicated production and over zealous musicality, there is a clear message within these tracks. Indeed, in each track we find that on more than one occasion the arrangement is stripped back to vocals, bass and drums, ensuring that the vocal lines come across as the main message of the songs.

Petey’s voice is strong throughout the album, cutting through the mix on the up-tempo songs, and leading the slower, more reflective songs with passion and soul. On that point, I am particularly impressed with the diversity shown on this album. There are, as I have mentioned, some out-and-out electric songs on here, though these are balanced well with more reflective, acoustic-led tracks such as “Take My Heart”, and also piano-led tracks such as “You Gave”. The standard of the album is unerring, even with these shifts in focus, and this is again a testament to the quality of musicianship and production on the album.

Lyrically this album is heartfelt, passionate, and easy to follow, good attributes for congregational worship tracks. I particularly like the message behind “Take My Heart” - praising God for who He is in the verses, then asking Him to take us and use us for His glory in the chorus. As Christians, we long to see His Kingdom come, and His will be done through us.

As I was listening to this album I was picturing tracks from it being used in youth services. As with bands such as Casting Crowns, Hillsong United, and Planetshakers, all of whom are headed up by worship leaders with a passion for youth, there is an exuberance about this album. I pray that songs from this album will get out into the Kingdom, igniting that spark from which His fire can spread.

Petey Allan’s album is available from http://www.eatacd.com

Drew Reese's EP is now available at http://drewreese.bandcamp.com. A great worship album from a passionate and anointed songwriter and worship leader, this contains compelling versions of both Chris Tomlin's "Awakening", and Matt Redman's "Facedown", together with 3 self-penned songs from Drew.

My review of this album is here.

A brand new worship EP by Drew Reese will be released tomorrow, February 8th, and Drew has given me a preview copy in anticipation of the release date. This EP contains more powerful, piano-lead worship, encompassing all of Drew's passion and fervour for the Lord. Entitled "Redemption", the EP includes 3 of his own songs, together with new versions of Chris Tomlin's "Awakening", and Matt Redman's "Facedown".

1 Chronicles 16:29 - "Give to the Lord the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come into His presence. Worship the Lord in all His holy splendour."

Worship music can often almost give us visual glimpses of the Lord's power, might, and beauty. The verse above tells us to worship the Lord in all His holy splendour, but in order to do that some of us need some idea of what that is like. The "23rd Psalm" at the start of the EP showed me some of what this is like, of how great it is to be able to worship such an awesome God.

Just as in the first album of Drew's that I came across (Next Door to Eden), here we find contemplative piano-lead worship, seamlessly crescendoing into powerful choruses. The beauty of this album lies in the simplicity of it's production, at many times the orchestration consists merely of piano, vocals, and some strings. This is particularly apparent in "Awakening" - a subtle arrangement, this resists the temptation to replicate previous versions and instead goes down the route of contemplation and heart preparation.

The first two songs on this album sound as if they could have been written at any point in time, by any of the major hymn writers in history. They are, in fact, brand new, and have been written by Drew. Both are effectively sung scripture, there is very little in the verses that is not biblical, though the arrangements, production, and integration all make them sound as if we've been singing them for years. Hopefully, in a few years time, this will be the case, for here I believe we can take some inspiration from Drew's lead, and place hymns to the fore in our times of worship. At a summer conference last year I was touched by their use of hymns, and particularly praise choruses in times of worship, and feel this is something worth remembering when preparing songs to sing to the Lord.

The EP ends with a stirring version of Matt Redman's "Facedown". In my opinion, the best aspect of this song has always been the bridge, which alludes to the light of the Lord's glory. Within the Chronicles verse quoted we are asked to "Worship the Lord in all His holy splendour". For me, the light of the Lord's glory is the most powerful image of Him, radiant and resplendent. To worship Him is an honour, one that Drew holds in high regard, and this passion is prevalent throughout this album.

Drew's album will be available for download from tomorrow (February 8th) at http://drewreese.bandcamp.com.

Following on from last week's review of Drew Reese's gospel-tinged "Next Door to Eden" album, I received a very nice email from Drew over the weekend. Drew has offered readers of this column the opportunity to obtain a 20% discount when downloading this album from his Bandcamp site. Simply enter "rotheram" as the discount code at the checkout and you will receive 20% off!

Drew has been in the studio this past week making finishing touches to his new album - "Redemption" - a collection of worship songs including Matt Redman's "Facedown" and Chris Tomlin's "Awakening". There is a 30-second taster on his site, and after listening to it I'm looking forward to the album. It will be released on the 8th of February, and look out for a review of the album on this site shortly after this date.

Poignant, touching, heartfelt, moving - 4 words I could happily use time and again to describe this album from Drew Reese. From great gospel choruses (Testify To Love) to songs that challenge your heart and mind (Waiting For Lightning) to beautiful instrumental piano (Hymn to the Fallen Soldier), this album has it all. And yet, this is only half the story - the man behind it is quite something too.

Not only is Drew a lifelong musician, a passionate and anointed worship leader, and accomplished songwriter, but he is also a military man - currently assigned to the 23rd Army Band for the Utah National Guard. His military service began with an inner call sparked by the 9/11 attacks, and has seen him posted for a time to the Middle East, serving in Iraq and Kuwait, and also in Afghanistan. His experiences there provide some of the themes central to this album, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the "Hymn to the Fallen Soldier".

It is this track that first drew me towards the album. For a long time one of my favourite pieces of film music has been the "Hymn to the Fallen" from "Saving Private Ryan", and I wondered whether this track would have the same passion and breathtaking reverence as it's namesake. It's safe to say that the hunch turned out to be right, and when I read that the "fallen soldier" was in fact a comrade of Drew's, and that it had been written by Drew upon hearing the news, emotions got the better of me. There is a deeply stirring undertone to this album, and the Lord's presence is all over it.

Drew's style, for me, is very much reminiscent of such contemporary artists as Michael W. Smith and Mark Schulz, with lively, often piano-led praise, and some stirring gospel choruses. particularly present in songs such as "Testify to Love" and "For Such a Time as This". When you listen to this, have a read through his story, and take some time to listen to the lyrics carefully, for it is in the songwriting where the beauty of this album lies.

Drew's album is available at http://drewreese.bandcamp.com, and more information about him and his story can be found on his personal website www.drewreese.com.