Reviews

MUSIC

Quality and variety for all tastes

Peter Dilley takes a look at the latest worship releases

Heart of Worship Vol 2, Word, 2 CDs £14.99/Cassette £9.99

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever, Worship Together (EMI Christian Music), 2 CDs £16.99/Cassettes £12.99

The Songs of Fellowship Collection – Volume Eight, Kingsway Music, CD £10.99/Cassette £7.99

Eterne: Never Be The Same, Various Artists, Forefront Records (EMI Christian Music), CD £14.99/Cassette £10.99

Soul Survivor – Undignified, Survivor Records, CD £14.99

On Eagles Wings, by Doug Horley and Friends, Kingsway Music, CD £14.99

Beautiful Saviour – Australia Worships Vol 1, Bredon Hill Music (Kingsway Music), CD £14.99

O Worship The Lord, by John Gerighty, Eagle Publishing, CD £10.99

TAKE a browse through the racks of worship CDs and songbooks in any Christian bookshop, and you’ll probably conclude that tracking the latest developments is not only becoming harder, but quite expensive too. Whilst the newest songs may indeed be found on high-profile releases from popular worship bands and songwriters, the greater variety of material on compilation albums and other collections can be more useful, particularly for church music groups keen to expand their repertoires.

If you’re not unduly bothered about having the ‘original’ versions, the 30-song Heart Of Worship Volume 2 represents excellent value for money. The double-CD sweep through the songbooks begins (chronologically) with I Love You Lord (1978), taking in the likes of Jesus Shall Take The Highest Honour, Amazing Love and My Lips Shall Praise You, moving onwards with Delirious?’s I’ve Found Jesus and It’s Rising Up, and coming up to the present with Hungry (Kathryn Scott) and By Your Side (Hillsongs). A helpful resource.

I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever runs a close second for value – 25 songs split between ‘studio’ and ‘live’ CDs. Recording credits include many well-known movers and shakers – Noel Richards, Delirious?, Matt Redman, Paul Oakley, plus US worship teams Passion (led by Chris Tomlin) and Sonic Flood. Well-chosen highlights from no less than 12 popular albums and many classic moments – recommended. to the top

Although musicians aren’t listed on The Songs Of Fellowship Collection – Volume Eight, I spotted appearances by Graham Kendrick (We Believe, Make Way), Sue Rinaldi (I Will Cry Mercy), Kevin Prosch and Noel Richards amidst its 20 tracks.

A couple of hymns (Glorious Things Of Thee, How Sweet The Name Of Jesus) broaden its content on the traditional side, but this doesn’t rate so highly for contemporary material, with sparse coverage of the last few years. to the top

With just 10 songs, Eterne can’t compete on quantity of material, but the artist line-up is impressive. Specially recorded tracks from CCM stars Rebecca St James (Shout To The Lord), Audio Adrenaline (Hands And Feet) and Raze (Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?), nestle alongside Jesus’ Blood (Delirious?), a new version of Heart Of Worship (Matt Redman), Chris Tomlin’s Whisper My Name and Eli’s interpretation of Over The Mountains. And thanks to Peter Kipley’s production skills, there’s real freshness in the sound. to the top

For many youngsters, experiencing first-rate worship music is synonymous with a trip to Soul Survivor. Spanning the years 1995-1999, with photos from the landmark Message 2000 event, Soul Survivor – Undignified offers live songs in abundance by Matt Redman (Lord Let Your Glory Fall, Everything That Has Breath, Can A Nation Be Changed? and more), plus input from his colleagues Tim Hughes (I Will Always Love) and Martyn Layzell (Life Of Love by David Gate).

Additional CD-ROM content offers video highlights and interview footage with Mike Pilavachi and Matt Redman. Time to savour the experience again, or discover what you’ve been missing.
to the top

Though better known for his children’s ministry, Doug Horley has penned more than a few worship songs with general appeal, some in partnership with Noel Richards or Vanessa Freeman. On Eagles Wings gathers together 14 of the best.
Doug is lead singer on several tracks (Jars Of Clay, Come Out Of Darkness ...), but vocal duties are shared around.
Phatfish’s Louise Fellingham guests on the title cut, and Belinda Horley and Vanessa Freeman feature strongly too. We Want To See Jesus Lifted High gets another airing (surprise, surprise!): the Wembley Stadium version (also available on I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever), with Noel Richards and 43,000 people – momentous!

Notwithstanding the popularity of Messrs Kendrick, Richards and Horley, many churches are becoming as keen on songs from the Southern Hemisphere as on those from South London. A wealth of worship material is emerging from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, not least from Kendrick’s antipodean counterpart Geoff Bullock. to the top

Thirteen of the 16 songs on Beautiful Saviour are his, including The Power Of Your Love, the rousing This Kingdom of Love and the more devotionally-styled Just Let Me Say. A Gospel-flavour characterises Lift Our Praises, one of two from Michelle Kay, and there’s also a solid rendition of Darlene Zschech’s Shout To The Lord, surely the most widely-used Australian worship song thus far. to the top

But if all this seems like an overload of new songs, you might feel the need to redress the balance with some classic hymns. New instrumental collection O Worship The Lord, from classical guitarist John Gerighty and associates, reads like a Songs Of Praise Top 10 (Top 12 actually) – Just As I Am, The King Of Love, The Lord’s My Shepherd, Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us,There Is A Green Hill and more. Gentle, soothing and ideal for moments of contemplation.

No lack of variety or quality here, but in the end you’ll have to choose for yourself.

Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities, with the charity InterAct. to the top

© 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.


		MUSIC Quality and variety for all tastes Peter Dilley takes a look at the latest worship releases Heart of Worship Vol 2, Word, 2 CDs £14.99/Cassette £9.99 I Could Sing of Your Love Forever, Worship Together (EMI Christian Music), 2 CDs £16.99/Cassettes £12.99 The Songs of Fellowship Collection – Volume Eight, Kingsway Music, CD £10.99/Cassette £7.99 Eterne: Never Be The Same, Various Artists, Forefront Records (EMI Christian Music), CD £14.99/Cassette £10.99 Soul Survivor – Undignified, Survivor Records, CD £14.99 On Eagles Wings, by Doug Horley and Friends, Kingsway Music, CD £14.99 Beautiful Saviour – Australia Worships Vol 1, Bredon Hill Music (Kingsway Music), CD £14.99 O Worship The Lord, by John Gerighty, Eagle Publishing, CD £10.99 TAKE a browse through the racks of worship CDs and songbooks in any Christian bookshop, and you’ll probably conclude that tracking the latest developments is not only becoming harder, but quite expensive too. Whilst the newest songs may indeed be found on high-profile releases from popular worship bands and songwriters, the greater variety of material on compilation albums and other collections can be more useful, particularly for church music groups keen to expand their repertoires. If you’re not unduly bothered about having the ‘original’ versions, the 30-song Heart Of Worship Volume 2 represents excellent value for money. The double-CD sweep through the songbooks begins (chronologically) with I Love You Lord (1978), taking in the likes of Jesus Shall Take The Highest Honour, Amazing Love and My Lips Shall Praise You, moving onwards with Delirious?’s I’ve Found Jesus and It’s Rising Up, and coming up to the present with Hungry (Kathryn Scott) and By Your Side (Hillsongs). A helpful resource. I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever runs a close second for value – 25 songs split between ‘studio’ and ‘live’ CDs. Recording credits include many well-known movers and shakers – Noel Richards, Delirious?, Matt Redman, Paul Oakley, plus US worship teams Passion (led by Chris Tomlin) and Sonic Flood. Well-chosen highlights from no less than 12 popular albums and many classic moments – recommended. to the top Although musicians aren’t listed on The Songs Of Fellowship Collection – Volume Eight, I spotted appearances by Graham Kendrick (We Believe, Make Way), Sue Rinaldi (I Will Cry Mercy), Kevin Prosch and Noel Richards amidst its 20 tracks. A couple of hymns (Glorious Things Of Thee, How Sweet The Name Of Jesus) broaden its content on the traditional side, but this doesn’t rate so highly for contemporary material, with sparse coverage of the last few years. to the top With just 10 songs, Eterne can’t compete on quantity of material, but the artist line-up is impressive. Specially recorded tracks from CCM stars Rebecca St James (Shout To The Lord), Audio Adrenaline (Hands And Feet) and Raze (Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?), nestle alongside Jesus’ Blood (Delirious?), a new version of Heart Of Worship (Matt Redman), Chris Tomlin’s Whisper My Name and Eli’s interpretation of Over The Mountains. And thanks to Peter Kipley’s production skills, there’s real freshness in the sound. to the top For many youngsters, experiencing first-rate worship music is synonymous with a trip to Soul Survivor. Spanning the years 1995-1999, with photos from the landmark Message 2000 event, Soul Survivor – Undignified offers live songs in abundance by Matt Redman (Lord Let Your Glory Fall, Everything That Has Breath, Can A Nation Be Changed? and more), plus input from his colleagues Tim Hughes (I Will Always Love) and Martyn Layzell (Life Of Love by David Gate). Additional CD-ROM content offers video highlights and interview footage with Mike Pilavachi and Matt Redman. Time to savour the experience again, or discover what you’ve been missing. to the top Though better known for his children’s ministry, Doug Horley has penned more than a few worship songs with general appeal, some in partnership with Noel Richards or Vanessa Freeman. On Eagles Wings gathers together 14 of the best. Doug is lead singer on several tracks (Jars Of Clay, Come Out Of Darkness ...), but vocal duties are shared around. Phatfish’s Louise Fellingham guests on the title cut, and Belinda Horley and Vanessa Freeman feature strongly too. We Want To See Jesus Lifted High gets another airing (surprise, surprise!): the Wembley Stadium version (also available on I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever), with Noel Richards and 43,000 people – momentous! Notwithstanding the popularity of Messrs Kendrick, Richards and Horley, many churches are becoming as keen on songs from the Southern Hemisphere as on those from South London. A wealth of worship material is emerging from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, not least from Kendrick’s antipodean counterpart Geoff Bullock. to the top Thirteen of the 16 songs on Beautiful Saviour are his, including The Power Of Your Love, the rousing This Kingdom of Love and the more devotionally-styled Just Let Me Say. A Gospel-flavour characterises Lift Our Praises, one of two from Michelle Kay, and there’s also a solid rendition of Darlene Zschech’s Shout To The Lord, surely the most widely-used Australian worship song thus far. to the top But if all this seems like an overload of new songs, you might feel the need to redress the balance with some classic hymns. New instrumental collection O Worship The Lord, from classical guitarist John Gerighty and associates, reads like a Songs Of Praise Top 10 (Top 12 actually) – Just As I Am, The King Of Love, The Lord’s My Shepherd, Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us,There Is A Green Hill and more. Gentle, soothing and ideal for moments of contemplation. No lack of variety or quality here, but in the end you’ll have to choose for yourself. Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities, with the charity InterAct. to the top © 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.