NEW MUSIC
CINDY MORGAN THE CASHMANS ALANNA BOUDREAU
Old Testament Vol 1: Autumn and Eve City of God Goodbye Stranger
Cindy Morgan’s career has seen her adopt roles Christian acoustic pop has a valuable asset in Part of the Love Good collective of writer/
from dance-pop queen to piano-based singer- the husband-wife team of Jonathan and Britney musicians which includes Drew and Ellie
songwriter. Now she’s diving headfirst into a Cashman. Working with veteran songsmiths like Holcomb, Dave Barnes, Matt Maher, and
collection drawn from Old Testament themes Sarah Hart and Ian Eskelin (the latter also co- Scott Mulvahill. Boudreau turns in a chillingly
and narratives. “Come to Life” recounts the producing with Barry Weeks), the Cashmans memorable arrangement of Mulvahill’s “The
creation of the first couple with gang harmonies deliver on a set of hopeful worship anthems, Lord Is Coming,” which appeared in a sparser
accompanying banjo and brushed drums. as can be gleaned from the song titles like “All version on his own recent album.
“West of Nod” shows the effects of Man’s Fall Things New” and “Children of God.” They don’t as mournful string bass, cello, and ukulele walk skimp on material either; these fourteen tracks “Wb/Bw”
through some eerie chord changes. “Dear (including two EDM remixes) aren’t weighted beautiful praise poem “God’s Grandeur” into
Life” adds sparing low piano chord for a song with filler either musically or lyrically. Jonathan’s a song, with a very different musical setting
of desperation and hope that could belong to Bible College degree serves him well for writing than when industrial band Mortal recorded
Joseph in the Pharaoh’s dungeons; “Weight” both songs and accompanying books like “40 it as “Bright Wings” in 1993. “Gigue” shows
expresses the grief of Job with acoustic guitar Days with the Savior.” Album opener “City of impressive piano chops, putting a vocal part
backed by spooky echoing electric lines. “Like God” starts things off right with Jonathan’s crisp in a J.S. Bach partita, Tori Amos-style. Violin,
David” finds Morgan longing for a Psalm-like baritone vocal atop a resonant bowed bass. guitar, cello, string bass, and emotive vocals
sincerity in her prayers. “Jacob’s Trouble” goes “The Glory and the Grace” builds off of the with a splash of the quirky Billie Holliday drawl
a different direction, with pounding Carole King hymn “O for A Thousand Tongues,” describing of Victoria Williams. Great stuff. Check it out.
piano recounting the lessons learned by the a life of devotion to Christ. Britney’s vocals book of Genesis’ trickiest character. The Fanny recall Danielle Young of Caedmon’s Call or Sara Crosby hymn “Pass Me Not” closes out the set, Bareilles, a confident, warm mezzo. A cover of leaving us hoping that Vol 2 will be close on Leeland Mooring’s modern communion classic its heels. “Carried to the Table” rounds things out.
turns
Gerard
Manley
Hopkins’
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.