NEW MUSIC
SELECTIVE HEARING | Robert Berman
JOHN VAN DEUSEN THE GRAY HAVENS
I Am Origami (Parts I, II, and B-sides) She Waits
John Van Deusen stepped out from popular circle turned on the tape recorder” kitchen Dave and Licia Radford once again deliver
Seattle band, The Lonely Forest, with the sink instrumentation; others hit the high points a solid set of spacious tunes, bringing the
brilliant summer 2017 release of ten solo tracks of Lord Huron’s indie rock, or are sparse as a Christian faith to everyday life. “See You Again,”
as I Am Origami: The Universal Sigh, a delightful porch-front concert. Between a track based on “Gone Are the Days,” and “Forever” speak to
blend of muscular indie rock and whispered the writings of Julian of Norwich, a Scripture hope beyond the grave. The sonics are brilliant
acoustic ballads. That success proved no fluke song from Proverbs 3:5-6, Habakkuk 3’s as ever, with several new musical flavors added
when he followed up just a few months later message of trust in adversity, and the joyous to their previous “Neil Diamond sings The
with I Am Origami: Every Power Wide Awake, declaration that, “The penance of my sin rest[s] Decemberists” approach: equal parts passion
another generous fourteen tracks across a on him,” this is some of the most explicitly and and compassion. The title track soars with
variety of styles from electric guitar to piano; artfully done Christian music you’re likely to unexpected falsetto. “High Enough” features a
from solo vocals to stacked chorale; from a one find this year, while remaining engaging both mellow hip hop beat and a rap verse by the
minute snippet to a 10 minute epic. Now, mere lyrically and musically. Here’s to hoping that Van delightfully ubiquitous Propaganda. Album
months later comes yet another installment of Deusen has another dozen tunes like these in highlight: “Three Birds in Babylon” blends a trip
tracks left off of the first two projects. Some his back pocket, ready to release into the wild. hop beat, thick synth bass, minor key piano
verge into Sufjan Stevens “Me and my drum
arpeggios, and flute flourishes into a spooky
Regina Spektor effect. “Storehouse” celebrates
God’s endless grace with a gospel vibe. An
eschatological theme binds the album together,
describing the Church’s anticipation of the day
of Christ’s return when, in the words of J.R.R.
Tolkien, “Every sad thing is coming untrue.”
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September 2018
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