NEW MUSIC
[ SELECTIVE HEARING | Robert Berman ]
will always be a worship leader, but If this is covers the silent Saturday between Christ’s in “Fools Gold,” paraphrasing the message of 1
the sunset of an amazing writing and recording falling and rising. Corinthians 13. The rest of the album continues
career on behalf of the Church, I want to say, As you might expect, Volume 1 is substantially in a similar “pressed but not crushed” vein that
“Thank you, sir. You are an inspiration to us all. more upbeat than the mournful prologue. will resonate with fans of Sara Groves and Jill
Well done good and faithful servant.” “His Heart Beats” rides along on cardiac- Phillips. Her raspy vocal, more Sheryl Crow than
Gerod Bass
Worship leader in Tacoma, WA. Mentor with Worship
Catalyst. Singer, songwriter, guitarist with a passion
for impacting lives for the sake of the Gospel.
oslc.com sounding floor toms and hammered dulcimer, Lucinda Williams, explores upper registers rarely
interpolating the hymn “Crown Him with Many heard in her previous work. Twin acoustic guitar,
Crowns.” “Risen Indeed” recounts Mary’s laden with shimmer, give the predominant tone
arrival at the empty tomb, while “I’ve Seen Too to this collection by, for, and about those going
ANDREW PETERSON Much” recounts Thomas’ experience in 7/4 through the wringer of life. McCracken looks
Resurrection Letters Prologue, time. “Remember Me” adopts a chanting vocal back over a rough season in her own life and
Resurrection Letters Volume 1 style, holding a single note for each measure, concludes, “This is not okay, so I know this not
changing with the chords, as it concatenates the end.” Praise God for that.
a dozen Bible passages comparing our
wayward sinfulness to the thief on the cross, FUTURE OF FORESTRY
and Christ’s great salvific work on our behalf. Union
(Not sure why this track wasn’t on the prologue,
Of all the children of Christian music’s 1990’s but it’s good regardless.) “Maybe Next Year” commercial breakthrough, Andrew Peterson echoes the chorus of older song “Pillar of Fire,” most faithfully carries on Rich Mullins’ legacy of accompanying a touching lyric which describes richly biblical, yet deeply personal songwriting. the fascination of a trip to the current city of Ten years ago, he expressed these values in Jerusalem while longing for the coming of the After a glorious 2016 release that combined
the curiously titled “Resurrection Letters Volume New city. The Graceland-esque “Remember haunting,
2” and promised that Volume 1 would soon and Proclaim” will surely find a place in worship with thunderously cinematic Hans Zimmer-
arrive. How soon? Now. It’s actually broken into services, complementing the Lord’s Supper. style instrumentals, Eric Owyoung is back in
two projects: A five song “prologue” Lenten Peterson includes a cover of “Rise Up,” a stirring the driver’s seat for a full instrumental album.
meditation focused on the death of Christ, and Ben Shive composition last heard on Shive’s First off, this album passes the basic (but
a nine song collection about Jesus’ resurrection. 2008 solo outing The Ill-Tempered Klavier, and often neglected) test of instrumental work:
Not only do the two complement each other, one of the best songs of the new millennium. If Was there a clear melody line in the music
but the final song on Volume 1 was designed to Peterson’s last two albums seemed to be about you just heard? Can you hum it? For this
sonically segue into the first song on Volume 2. his personal Dark Night of the Soul, these two album, yes, you can. Piano and string textures
projects display the dawn beyond the darkness. predominate, sounding convincingly organic
The prologue begins with “Last Words
Tibetan-inflected
electro-ballads
even when arranged electronically, which
(Tenebrae),” a musical canon with a text drawn
from the seven last sayings of Christ on the SANDRA McCRACKEN is no mean feat. Katie Burns of the Denver
cross, each with its own melody that layers Songs from the Valley Philharmonic provides acoustic cello, but
progressively into a sound collage centered on otherwise the acoustic textures are the result
different degrees of the scale: The root, the fifth, of careful electronic work. Track names “Light
the octave, the second, the third, and so on, from Earth,” and “Eclipse” hint at astronomical
uniting into a single chord. “Well Done Good and inspirations. Sure, you could put this on in the
background while you work, but it rewards
Faithful” resurrects a beautiful Isaac Watts text
contemplating Christ as God’s suffering servant. One of our best modern hymn re-envisioners
“The Ninth Hour” follows, an instrumental steps back to the album format in a singer/
contemplation on piano and synth strings. songwriter mode. “Nobody needs another love
“Always Good” considers our need to trust God song… the light brings out the shimmer of
in the darkness. Prologue closer “God Rested” what is fool’s gold and what is love,” she says
April 2018
focused listening as well. The majestic “North
side” may just lift you out of your seat.
Robert Berman
Robert is a Sunday School teacher, music nerd,
and acoustic guitar enthusiast. He lives in rural
Tennessee with his wife and three boys.
WorshipMusician.com
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