is something of a rare animal in the genre of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Like the work of , , or and can easily be seen as a philosophical descendant of Psalm 95 or the music of . Its primary aim is not to explore human experience, or to entertain or instruct, but to extol, glorify, and exalt. The fundamental emotion it expresses is that of spiritual gratitude. But the other artists mentioned above are primarily vocal performers. The focus of their records is not so much on the quality of the musical composition as on the range and power of their singing. Not so with . Though he possesses a pleasant and smooth vocal tone, he is not a flamboyant performer. Nor does he equate musical bombast with intensity of feeling. Instead, he expresses his gratitude through a beautifully reflective brand of acoustic-based new age folk-pop with Latin and Celtic accents. 's production is lush but reserved, striking a delicate balance between 's folk and pop influences. And if occasionally leans on CCM cliches, the general authenticity of the compositions is never compromised. The textured arrangements include gentle harmonies from , sensitive fiddling by , versatile fretwork by Christian folkie , and resonant piano solos by himself. This is praise music that feels uncommonly honest and unaffected. ~ Evan Cater