'Fret Not' - Wales Road- (Spun Records)

"In a sonic landscape littered with 'Christian' musicians weighed down with worldliness and compromise, a sold-out-for-Jesus folk singer like Tom Wales is that much more a blessing. Tom is the heart of Wales Road, an acoustic folk and blues duo with guitarist Ilya Fedotov. 'Fret Not' is the third album from the usual grab bag of guest artists and the Wales Road band as seen live. Adding to the mix are everything from viola to hammer dulcimer, to great effect. This is a much more mature sound than 'Native Altar' the last album. Songs like 'Even So' are more in the older sound, but then 'Help Me Jesus' (a gorgeous love song) and the cascading 'Godly Repentance' are both startling and within unexpected sound, both rewarding.

Some of the songs are kind of humorous like 'Everybody Else' and 'Don't Fall,I choose' for their restrained joy. The most rock and roll sound on the disc is 'Purple Heart,Silver Cross', a song about the death of God's son. There is no doubt where Tom's affections lie on these songs, perhaps effectively on 'Help Me Jesus' a song that deserves much wider exposure. Of all the songs here, 'Trees and Pretty Things' sounds like a folk-rock single from 1965.Simple and honest. A highlight. 'City of Refuge' sounds much like Tom is finally finding his own style - and I for one say 'Praise the Lord',this stuff is great! It would be great to list every interesting sound Wales has added, but every song has its own touches and reveal themselves with repeated listening. 'Fret Not' ends with 'Godly Repentance'. Let's pray more than a few listeners feel so moved.Amen! Well done Wales Road."