STYLE: Ambient/Meditational RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 103192-17472 LABEL: Integrity 99982 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RELEASE DATE: 2009-09-16 RRP: £9.99
Reviewed by Helen Dean
Unwinding over seven and a half minutes, the opening instrumental "Turn My Face" from Britain's husband and wife "soaking music" duo sets the tone for the whole album with gentle, mournful, repetitive and evocative keys, violin and pipes. Following tracks on this 2009 album add subtle sax and ambient soothing melodies. "Ever Near" feels like refreshing water with lilting runs and key changes. Sensitive piano, synth pads and woodwind are Julian's department whilst Melissa contributes resonant and reverberating violin with her wistful vocals heard on "I Long For You", "Come", "Your Breath", "For You" and "Your Love Never Fails". These are not so much 15 separate tracks but over an hour of music to immerse yourself in. The album closes, as it began, with a mesmerising dance, the beautifully rhythmic and repetitive piano reminding me of melodic minimalism at its best and pointing me to a spiritual world beyond the material realm.
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Product Description
Time In His Presence.
Julian & Melissa have been worshipping and enjoying the presence of God together for over 15 years. After their marriage in 1996 they pursued the call of God together to go to South Africa where they spent nearly a decade leading worship and training musicians. Now based back in the UK, God has led them into a season of increased intimacy with Him. These recordings capture those moments as they draw aside to spend ‘Time In His Presence’.
“Spending time in God’s presence has become a journey of discovery for us. When we enter into that ‘secret place’, the Spirit always meets us where we are at and does something new, fresh and exciting.
“This recording captures a morning where we were enjoying such a time. All songs were sung spontaneously as the Spirit inspired. We trust that as you enter into His presence you will feel a release to ‘sing a new song’, bringing an offering that is uniquely yours to the Lord. Our desire is to travel deeper into His presence, to hear the ‘Sound of Heaven’.”