Summer hasn’t got off to a great start in Britain. A spring dry enough to trigger a drought has given way to overcast skies and more showers than sunshine. A typical British summer in other words!

Despair not, however, because Stuart Townend has released the perfect album for the summer, brimming with feel good factor and positive vibes.

‘The Journey’ is the kind of album you would want playing whilst driving down English country lanes on a sunny evening with the windows wound down and a cool breeze flapping at your collar.

It’s great to see folk music enjoying a revival right now and that influence can be heard in this latest offering from Townend.

There is plenty of banjo-strumming and some good jaunty melodies to get your toes tapping. Think Mumford & Sons, only cheerier and without the wailing.

Townend is no simple copycat, however. ‘The Journey’ is a thoughtfully and beautifully crafted album, full of the kind of heartfelt and original worship that we have come to expect from such a talented songwriter.

And it's not all folk-influenced, with the second half of the album especially moving back into more conventional Stuart Townend territory.

Never one to replace meaning with music, ‘The Journey’ shows off Townend’s skill at writing theologically meaningful songs, as well as catchy tunes – “Simple Living” would be a great case in point.

And true to his style, Townend keeps the mood light, even when he slows the pace down for his more reflective songs, such as the stunning track “The Perfect Wisdom of God”.

All in all, this is an album that will make you feel like it’s summer in your life, no matter how things look outside the window.

How could anyone possibly get to the end of this album without a smile on their face?

Five stars