Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Based in the Stoke area, this four piece band have their sights on the mainstream rather than the Christian scene and yet their Christian worldview emerges skilfully through the three songs on this CD. The prominence of piano and the melancholy indie sound of this may have people making lazy comparisons with Coldplay or Keane but One Room House have delivered a good debut recorded over at dB Studios in Lincoln. "Paper Faces" opens up the CD with a deceptive catchy melody that covers over a song of disillusionment with materialism. The theme continues into "Sawdust Floor" which looks at the things people chase after only to find that when they possess them, they lose their lustre. Finally "The Beaujolais Song" offers a contrast to the first songs where singer Paul Nixon yearns for a greater reality and the song is almost a prayer. For awhile I've been longing to find a band that wanted to make music for the world to hear and yet critique that world. Perhaps I just found them! This is a great start.

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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