Matt Redman                                                                                    Grade: A-

“Beautiful News”

sixsteps/Sparrow Records

12 tracks @ 56:55

            “Beautiful News” is the sixth record from Britster Matt Redman, but his first new one in over two.  It’s a welcome return.  Fans of Chris Tomlin will like this disk.  Artists such as Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, tree63 and Kutless have recorded Redman’s songs.  Eight of his songs are in the CCLI top 100.

            You may have already heard what’s supposed to be the first single “You Never Let Go.”  According to Redman’s PR material, the song is inspired by Psalm 23 and is about the importance of realizing that God is always holding us even “through the calm and through the storm.”

            The title track is about news so powerful that it will “shake the whole wide world.”  “Take It To the Streets,” one of Redman’s two collaborations with Martin Smith of delirious?, is a call to action; “Now’s the time to raise our voice. . .wake a dead heart from it’s sleep.”

            “Greater Song” has the potential to be a wonderful song for use in church.  I really liked the sing-along chorus.

            Redman says, “I’d like listeners to find themselves engaging God through this album. . . .  Good worship songs have elements of ‘inhale’ and ‘exhale.’  They halp us breathe in the awe-inspiring truths of who our God is, and then they propel us to a life of praise in worship.”

            “If You Know You’re Loved” ends too early and I could live without the slightly trippy re-mix version of the hidden track of “Beautiful News.”

- Rob S.

www.mattredman.com