'You’ve got to love thebandwith noname – a band who decided to let their fans choose a name for them, only for those fans to decide they preferred them nameless.'

George Luke reviews the best new releases from the Christian music scene

Use the links to buy the albums from amazon.co.uk and Christian Aid will receive part of the sale price

There has never been much post-modern irony present in Christian music. And for that reason alone, you’ve got to love thebandwithnoname – a band who decided to let their fans choose a name for them, only for those fans to decide they preferred them nameless.

If you need another reason to love them, you should be able to find a few on their new album, Dying to Be There.

For the most part, thebandwithnoname don’t stray far from the template created by the long departed Worldwide Message Tribe and their producer Zarc Porter (hardly surprising; they’re all part of the same stable).

Front man Chip K overflows with energy and charisma – even if he does sometimes seem like a tamer version of that scary bloke in the Prodigy.

Along with the abrasive, rock-tinged rap tracks, there’s the odd ballad plus musical homages to After The Fire (“Misfit”) and the Beatles (“Justified”). The accompanying DVD contains music videos, interviews and an outtakes reel.

The original line-up of thebandwithnoname featured a singer known as The Bobsta. Since leaving the group, he’s reverted back to using his real name – Bobby Joel Stearns – and is now one third of the ‘electro-funk’ trio Unklejam.

thebandwithnoname – Dying to Be There: Click here

Currently doing the rounds with a series of high profile support slots (they recently supported Nelly Furtado, and will be opening for John Legend at Wembley Arena in June), Unklejam’s debut single “Love Ya” barely troubled the charts when it was released in February. A shame, because it’s fantastic.

Part James Brown, part Prince, part Cameo and part Imagination, “Love Ya” grabs you by both ears and demands your attention. Unklejam’s debut album comes out in June.

Unklejam – Love Ya: Click here

Unklejam – Unklejam (advance orders): Click here

Holding Nothing Back is the new album from worship leader Tim Hughes. Recorded in Hereford and LA (now there’s a stretch!), it’s packed with catchy hooks and lyrics you’ll want to spend as much time thinking over as well as shouting along to.

“Happy Day” and “The Highest and the Greatest” are anthems waiting to be discovered. Another highlight is "Clinging to the Cross” – a stunning duet with New Zealand pop star Brooke Fraser.

However, it’s the accompanying DVD that really shows how much Tim has matured both as a songwriter and as a worship leader. If you aspire to be either, it’s worth investing in this album just for the advice and insight (and occasional laughs) Tim shares on the DVD.

Tim Hughes – Holding Nothing Back: Click here

A couple of months ago, I was reminiscing here about dc Talk whilst reviewing the two-years-too-late tenth anniversary reissue of Jesus Freak.

Now the first of a fresh round of ex-dc Talk members’ solo projects is with us. Michael Tait’s new album should be out sometime soon. But ahead of that, we have Tobymac’s latest offering, Portable Sounds.

As on his previous album, Welcome to Diverse City, Tobymac blends reggae, rock and funk together to form a nice backdrop for rapping – and occasionally, singing – over. Every now and then, there’s a bit of inspired silliness thrown into the mix, such as the opera singing at the end of “Boomin’”.

There’s also a bit more of that irony thing I was on about earlier on the track “Lose My Soul” – which features a guest vocalist (Mandisa) who was once an American Idol contestant, and a line that goes “America doesn’t have stars anymore; now we have idols.”

Whether you’re a dc Talk fan or not, Portable Sounds is an outstanding work. But the best thing about it is that commonsense prevailed when Toby got his fans to vote for a title for it (what is it with artists getting their fans to choose the names of things for them?). They opted for Portable Sounds instead of The Color of We.

Toby Mac – Portable Sounds: Click here

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