Reviewed by Stella Redburn

What a contrast to the usual contemporary Christian worship album! This is like a softly pulsing jewel, easy to admire and gloriously constructed. It is a concept project put together by Singer/songwriters Michael Glen Bell and Duane W H Arnold with a collective of artists and which poses the question "What if we still believed?" and then takes us on a faith journey through poetry, music and lyrics. I found the musical style very accessible, as it is steeped in the West Coast sound of the late '60s and '70s. If you liked Crosby, Still & Nash or The Eagles, you'll love this. The lyrics are simple yet profound, with a theological sophistication lacking in many of today's worship songs. They are inspired by the Easter Liturgies of St John Chrysostom and reference ancient hymns and liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church, yet are relevant, simple and speak directly to us. The journey begins with an instrumental track of searching. The heartbeat backing keeps the stress level high. Our character enters the mystic chapel and we have "Come Let Us Worship", where strummed guitar and happy vocal harmonies form a complete contrast. The album is not long, at 30 minutes, but each track, though short, is perfectly formed. My favourites include "Death Is Destroyed", featuring the renowned Phil Keaggy on guitars. The simple antiphonal chorus sticks in your memory. Then I loved "We Sing With Angels", a sensitively sung hymn to Mary, again with such a catchy vocal riff. In "Holy Father", our journey protagonist stumbles to respond to new faith using the Lord's Prayer, which develops into a stately chant, and "Postlude" rounds off the album symmetrically with a more reposeful instrumental, as he travels out into the world.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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