Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I approached this album with some trepidation having read a press release that I was about to listen to some Irish country. My personal feelings is that although Irish country has produced a genuine superstar in Daniel O'Donnell, its tendency towards cheap-and-cheerful production values, many cover versions and a large helping of sentimentality has meant that most of this type of music leaves me cold. But I needn't have worried. Rev Lee has a strong voice, perfectly suited to the songs she or her producer have selected and the production and arrangements by Terry Bradford (Charlie Landsborough, The Fureys) may not be up there with Nashville's finest but there's an excellent pedal steel and Dobro from Maurice Hipkiss. Kelly's voice has good pitching diction and she interprets the songs of faith well thankfully avoiding - with the exception of Gaither's "He Touched Me" - the over-recorded the hymns and songs that clog up far too many country gospel albums. There is in fact some quality material here. The opener is a powerful interpretation of The Crabb Family's "Please Come Down To Me" while "I Watch The Sunrise", the catholic hymn best known by the Daniel O'Donnell recording, works well. Equally strong are the songs "Where Do I Go From Here" which kickstarted the career of songwriter Ray Griff and recorded by Jim Reeves, and the stately Southern gospel anthem "I Found The Lily In My Valley", written by Native American Quinton Mills. The original songs are pretty good as well. Rev Kelly Lee has been doing wonderful work on the mean streets of Warrington and clearly has a new ministry opening up and I am confident there will be more albums to follow in the future.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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