Reviews

BOOKS

Simple exposition

Ten: Living the Ten Commandments in the 21st Century,
by J John. (Kingsway £6.99)

Evangelist J John is currently packing them in at venues across the UK with his talks on the relevance of the Ten Commandments for contemporary society. This is the book of the talks, a rewritten and expanded version of his earlier book, God’s Top Ten.

It is clear from reading the book why so many flock to John’s
expositions. His style is lively and accessible, his illustrations bang up to date, his focus helpfully practical and down-to-earth. This would be a good book for somebody on the fringes of faith, who wants to know what the Bible says about big lifestyle issues. And it will help Christians personally struggling with the issues addressed: gossip, sexual temptation, greed, and so on.

Absent are deeper questions of hermeneutics (biblical interpretation). Why should we believe the Ten Commandments apply to Christians anyway? After all, we don’t feel compelled to keep Old Testament laws on beard trimming and animal sacrifice – so what’s special and different about these ten? And if we do believe the ten are binding on us, why don’t we keep the Jewish Sabbath?

If you are somebody who wrestles with thorny issues like these, you won’t find much here to help you. But if you want a simple exposition of the relevance of the Ten Commandments for today, J John makes a stimulating, insightful guide.

Mike Starkey is a North London vicar and author

MUSIC

Fresh indie sounds

PETER DILLEY looks at new releases on independent labels

Flaky, by The Paul Poulton Project, Temporary Music, CD, £13.75. Tel: 021 588 7959; e-mail: CinM@paulpoulton.freeserve.co.u

Secrets of Life, by Nia, Global Music Ministries, CD £14.99/Cassette £9.99
Tel: 0113 272 1350; On-line ordering: www.niaconcerts.com

Come and See, by Firstcut, Reelife Recordings, CD £12.99
Tel: 07971 942784; e-mail: firstcut@exyouth.force9.co.uk

Learning to Reign, by Paul Wallington, Wave Sound Audio Label. CD £10.99/cassette £7.99 Tel: 020 8299 4405; e-mail: outofthestrong@hotmail.com

In Christian music, as in the secular music industry, bands and soloists signed to the major labels reflect but a small part of the whole picture. Many others ply their wares on smaller labels, or via self-financed ‘private releases’. Some are little more than ‘demo’ tapes, but for Midlands-based singer and songwriter Paul Poulton, independent labels have been a way of life for several years.

The last time I cast a critical eye (or ear) over Paul’s work was in 1992 with Fallen People On A Planet, and back then he was moulding himself as a Larry Norman wannabe. That influence is still there, but on Paul’s latest release Flaky, his own musical identity is far more apparent.

Rhythm and blues is the predominant flavour, but reggae creeps into the sharply observational Flaky People, a track which has gained Christian radio airplay Stateside. No less witty is Happy Man’s Blues, even if the sleeve notes do have to explain EastEnders and Crimewatch for the benefit of our American cousins.

Mirroring Paul’s live work, the second half features six worship songs, from simple devotion (Merciful Father and We Stand Before You) to a final rallying cry (Come On). Over-reliance on programmed backing is perhaps a slight shortcoming, but otherwise Flaky is a well put-together set from an experienced and talented artist.

Nia Jones is another seasoned and prolific professional who, on this side of the Atlantic at least, remains in the independent fold and who has teamed up again with Mal Pope and his backing band The Jacks for Secrets Of Life. Nia writes the lyrics, but the music is Mal’s department – a formidable team!

Opening ballad Land Of My Fathers uses the chorus of the Welsh National Anthem, but, like the upbeat Revive Me, it focuses on Christian revival – I just loved the soulful rock stylings on this and on Message In A Bottle (no connection to The Police track) and Narrow Little Gate.

It was also interesting to compare Nia’s versions of Why Should I Worry? and Jonah with those from Mal on Reunion Of The Heart – I’m not sure which I like best. That’s one of my favourite albums, so I guess you could say that I was impressed.

Newer on the scene are worship band Firstcut, whose live album Come & See is out on Reelife Recordings. No-frills affair though it is (live means live), there’s no shortage of solid musicianship, with particularly fine performances from Firstcut’s rhythm section (bassist Simon Field, drummer Julie Williams and percussionist Phil Avery).

Vocally they shape up well too, with only the occasional weak moment, but the sloppy audience clapping becomes quite a distraction. Worship leader/keyboard player Simon Parry and singer Claire Morgans have most of the writing credits – I Believe and To Be Closer stand out most, but there’s space too for Kevin Prosch’s Banner Over Me and Oh Happy Day (uncredited, but based on the Edwin Hawkins arrangement).

Firstcut will soon be appearing on an Easter People kids’ album from Kingsway, but for now Come & See gives a fair indication of their capabilities.

Another newcomer is Paul Wallington, who has taken a more refined studio route with Learning To Reign, snappily subtitled “Songs of worship, doctrine and faith to exhort the Church of today to reign in Christ.” That’s one way of putting it (or not?), Christian jargon would be another – the ten tracks are packed with more ‘language of Zion’ than you’d hear at an all-night prayer meeting.

I’m not criticising the doctrinal/scriptural content per se, but the stilted sentences and strings of threadbare clichés aren’t what I’d regard as imaginative songwriting, however well executed the rock-meets-folk style backing may be (and some of it is actually pretty good).

Paul would find a kindred spirit in the Adrian Plass character Charles Cook (of “Deep Joy Bible School”), but lesser mortals probably prefer plain English.

Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and part-time studio technician

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		BOOKS Simple exposition Ten: Living the Ten Commandments in the 21st Century, by J John. (Kingsway £6.99) Evangelist J John is currently packing them in at venues across the UK with his talks on the relevance of the Ten Commandments for contemporary society. This is the book of the talks, a rewritten and expanded version of his earlier book, God’s Top Ten. It is clear from reading the book why so many flock to John’s expositions. His style is lively and accessible, his illustrations bang up to date, his focus helpfully practical and down-to-earth. This would be a good book for somebody on the fringes of faith, who wants to know what the Bible says about big lifestyle issues. And it will help Christians personally struggling with the issues addressed: gossip, sexual temptation, greed, and so on. Absent are deeper questions of hermeneutics (biblical interpretation). Why should we believe the Ten Commandments apply to Christians anyway? After all, we don’t feel compelled to keep Old Testament laws on beard trimming and animal sacrifice – so what’s special and different about these ten? And if we do believe the ten are binding on us, why don’t we keep the Jewish Sabbath? If you are somebody who wrestles with thorny issues like these, you won’t find much here to help you. But if you want a simple exposition of the relevance of the Ten Commandments for today, J John makes a stimulating, insightful guide. Mike Starkey is a North London vicar and author MUSIC Fresh indie sounds PETER DILLEY looks at new releases on independent labels Flaky, by The Paul Poulton Project, Temporary Music, CD, £13.75. Tel: 021 588 7959; e-mail: CinM@paulpoulton.freeserve.co.u Secrets of Life, by Nia, Global Music Ministries, CD £14.99/Cassette £9.99 Tel: 0113 272 1350; On-line ordering: www.niaconcerts.com Come and See, by Firstcut, Reelife Recordings, CD £12.99 Tel: 07971 942784; e-mail: firstcut@exyouth.force9.co.uk Learning to Reign, by Paul Wallington, Wave Sound Audio Label. CD £10.99/cassette £7.99 Tel: 020 8299 4405; e-mail: outofthestrong@hotmail.com In Christian music, as in the secular music industry, bands and soloists signed to the major labels reflect but a small part of the whole picture. Many others ply their wares on smaller labels, or via self-financed ‘private releases’. Some are little more than ‘demo’ tapes, but for Midlands-based singer and songwriter Paul Poulton, independent labels have been a way of life for several years. The last time I cast a critical eye (or ear) over Paul’s work was in 1992 with Fallen People On A Planet, and back then he was moulding himself as a Larry Norman wannabe. That influence is still there, but on Paul’s latest release Flaky, his own musical identity is far more apparent. Rhythm and blues is the predominant flavour, but reggae creeps into the sharply observational Flaky People, a track which has gained Christian radio airplay Stateside. No less witty is Happy Man’s Blues, even if the sleeve notes do have to explain EastEnders and Crimewatch for the benefit of our American cousins. Mirroring Paul’s live work, the second half features six worship songs, from simple devotion (Merciful Father and We Stand Before You) to a final rallying cry (Come On). Over-reliance on programmed backing is perhaps a slight shortcoming, but otherwise Flaky is a well put-together set from an experienced and talented artist. Nia Jones is another seasoned and prolific professional who, on this side of the Atlantic at least, remains in the independent fold and who has teamed up again with Mal Pope and his backing band The Jacks for Secrets Of Life. Nia writes the lyrics, but the music is Mal’s department – a formidable team! Opening ballad Land Of My Fathers uses the chorus of the Welsh National Anthem, but, like the upbeat Revive Me, it focuses on Christian revival – I just loved the soulful rock stylings on this and on Message In A Bottle (no connection to The Police track) and Narrow Little Gate. It was also interesting to compare Nia’s versions of Why Should I Worry? and Jonah with those from Mal on Reunion Of The Heart – I’m not sure which I like best. That’s one of my favourite albums, so I guess you could say that I was impressed. Newer on the scene are worship band Firstcut, whose live album Come & See is out on Reelife Recordings. No-frills affair though it is (live means live), there’s no shortage of solid musicianship, with particularly fine performances from Firstcut’s rhythm section (bassist Simon Field, drummer Julie Williams and percussionist Phil Avery). Vocally they shape up well too, with only the occasional weak moment, but the sloppy audience clapping becomes quite a distraction. Worship leader/keyboard player Simon Parry and singer Claire Morgans have most of the writing credits – I Believe and To Be Closer stand out most, but there’s space too for Kevin Prosch’s Banner Over Me and Oh Happy Day (uncredited, but based on the Edwin Hawkins arrangement). Firstcut will soon be appearing on an Easter People kids’ album from Kingsway, but for now Come & See gives a fair indication of their capabilities. Another newcomer is Paul Wallington, who has taken a more refined studio route with Learning To Reign, snappily subtitled “Songs of worship, doctrine and faith to exhort the Church of today to reign in Christ.” That’s one way of putting it (or not?), Christian jargon would be another – the ten tracks are packed with more ‘language of Zion’ than you’d hear at an all-night prayer meeting. I’m not criticising the doctrinal/scriptural content per se, but the stilted sentences and strings of threadbare clichés aren’t what I’d regard as imaginative songwriting, however well executed the rock-meets-folk style backing may be (and some of it is actually pretty good). Paul would find a kindred spirit in the Adrian Plass character Charles Cook (of “Deep Joy Bible School”), but lesser mortals probably prefer plain English. Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and part-time studio technician © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.