PREVIOUS REVEWS - from the heart

peter dilley reviews rainmaker in the Christian herald, january 2000.

the support slot in noel richards' current calling all nations tour has boosted yfriday's profile away from their newcastle base, but even if you haven't yet caught them live, it's still worth getting hold of their debut album, out now on kingsway's 'youth' label - survivor records.

just as delirious? grew from the cutting edge events, and matt redman's roots are at soul survivor, yfriday have sprung from the eponymous worship event held monthly at newcastle's city hall, so there's a powerful ministry dimension complementing the music.

not unusually the singer/frontman and guitarist (ken riley) is also the songwriter (gut i love the sleeve credit for ben culkin - 'bass and general wierdness'). infectiously anthemic rock songs are yfriday's forte in the literal sense (we're in delirious?/u2/simple minds territory here), with shine, all over the world and holy, holy, holy as prime examples.

just as important for their ministry are the quieter moments (in relative terms, of course) closer, thank you for the cross and calling out. like redman's finest, these are songs coming right from the heart, evoking an equally heartfelt response from the listener.

i wouldn't ask for more than that.

peter dilley is a bass player and part-time studio technician. this review taken from the Christian herald, january 2000