STYLE: Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 128015-19605 LABEL: Hillsong Music HMACD261 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RELEASE DATE: 2012-08-27 RRP: £13.00
Reviewed by George Luke
Australian megachurch Hillsong's continued rise is one of evangelical culture's biggest success stories of the late 20th century. But there's a thin line between growth and hegemony - and albums like this one make me fear that we may have crossed that line without noticing. This album follows the same pattern as all the other Hillsong albums you may have heard before - MOR pop worship songs performed live in a stadium-like setting - but features four artists who are household names to Hispanic believers: Colombian singer Alex Campos, Marcos Witt (an American who was raised in Mexico) and popular Mexican CCM artists Marco Barrientos and Marcela Gandara. Barrientos and Gandara are new names to me, but I have heard much of the other two's work and I have met Alex Campos in person. And maybe that's why I find this album such a frustrating listen: it just leaves you with the impression that the true nature of Hillsong's 'Global Project' is to spread a standardised sound or style of Australian stadium pop rock worship music all over the world, rather than to showcase the diversity that exists in the global Body of Christ. Bit of a wasted opportunity, really. . .
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Product Description
The songs of worship unite the body of Christ like no other force, breaking down all denominational, cultural and geographical barriers. Hillsong Church is just one of the many wonderful churches and ministries committed to touching the world with songs of worship, in all languages.
The Global Project endeavours to bring some of these ministries together, including some of the Hillsong Church locations around the world with Hillsong Australia to see some of most loved Hillsong songs released in nine languages simultaneously around the world.
Nine Languages, Nine Separate Albums = One Project... The Global Project.
The instrumental tracks are taken from Hillsong recordings, and partnering with the vocalists from the partner ministries or Hillsong Church global locations, each of the language vocals have been recorded.
Spanish (with Marcos Witt, Marco Barrientos, Marcela Gandara and Alex Campos)
Each album of the Global Project will contain 12 well-known Hillsong songs and three songs from the non-Hillsong partnering churches or ministries.