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Judging by the comments in the blog and on the forum, I'm not the only one rediscovering Glo at the moment. Since I wrote that previous blog entry I've continued listening to Glo on my car journeys and continued to be amazed that an album I thought I knew so well can still grab me and reveal new things to me. I've always thought that Hang On To You was my stand-out favourite song on the album, and whilst I'd probably still call that my favourite it suddenly seems to be a much closer call.

Something that isn't looking quite so close, is the current round of the Ultimate Delirious? Song Poll. Voting for the best song on Glo began yesterday, and My Glorious already has a strong lead over Investigate. After that it's much closer with about four songs all fairing similarly.

Before Glo was released, I remember rumours starting to emerge that the new album would be a return to their Cutting Edge style of worship music, rather than the more secular style of their previous album Mezzamorphis. Nothing much changes there, does it? Even now with a new album on the way people start asking if it will be mainstream or Christian targeted. But back then there was even talk that Glo might be called Cutting Edge 5. I remember being horrified at this thought and desperately hoping the band wouldn't take that route. I've always been very in favour of Delirious? trying to integrate themselves in the mainstream music scene and with Mezzamorphis they had really started making progress. So the thought of a diversion back to 'church music' (as some would call it), didn't seem like a great idea to me.

But when Glo arrived (and thank goodness they didn't call it CE5!) it proved that the band really did know what they were doing. It may not have been targeted at the secular world, but it was a stunning album and completely the right step in the Delirious? journey.

So, continuing with the album where I left off last time, My Glorious simply rocks like no other Delirious? song. You can just feel the force that Stew beats his drums with as you listen to it, and the bass tweaks stand out so cleanly and clearly. With Everything and Hang On To You following in quick succession, it truly is an amazing sequence of songs.

But it's the last two songs on Glo that have really surprised me. I listened to them again this morning, and realised what a massive song Jesus Blood is. The background is full of tweaks and bleeps and a stirring drum beat. Generally I'm not keen on choirs, but Delirious? have a habit of putting them to good use (the rerecorded version of I Could Sing and Not Forgotten on the Deeper album are other good examples). In Jesus Blood the choir add an extra dimension to the chorus, allowing Martin to add extra vocals. I love the way he sings "Heaven is my home" over the choir.

Today I also found myself really interested in the lyrics to The Years Go By. It's such an autobiographical song, sung by a band who have seen it all over the years and still continue with a fire inside them.

Looking back across the years/We've had joy, we've had tears/Hand in hand we've run the race/Gratitude for your grace/Thank you every time you've led us through/Always you are the fire in me

The years go by and still I fly/On wings like eagle's/You take me high where angels cry/Glory forever!

Looking back we had a dream/History we will make/Let the broken let the strong/Live our lives as a song/Thank you you're the one who keeps it true

The words are so poignant. Over the years the band have had many times of joy and more than a few moments of tears. When Martin wrote those words he wouldn't have known that ahead of them lay times of sadness, such as the passing away of Jon's uncle who was a friend to them all. But it's the last verse that I especially like. It talks about how the band had a dream to make history living their lives through music. Who can deny they've done that? They've influenced probably millions of people around the world with their music, and still they fly.