Tony Cummings and Mike Rimmer survey all the releases to find the best Christian music albums of 2006.
Continued from page 1
VARIOUS - Many Voices, One
Song (WEC International)
The fact that this
extraordinary, world music compilation has been made available for
FREE by WEC International (Worldwide Evangelisation for Christ) is
incredible news particularly as so many Christians in the West still
suffer from zero comprehension of the cultural diversity of the world
Church. This fascinating trawl through numerous forms of indigenous
music addresses that ignorance. These worship songs/recordings emanate
from Spain, Brazil, The Gambia, Senegal, India, Tibet, Thailand,
Tunisia, the Basque country and a couple of Asian nations that can't
be named for security reasons and the music here is stunning in its
diversity - from Santana-esque rock worship in Spain to griot-style
kora playing in Senegal and The Gambia. It's also a fully interactive
CD; pop it into your Mac or PC and it opens up a wealth of information
- both on the artists featured and the countries from which they come.
To locate this album visit
http://www.wec-int.org.uk/main/breaking/dec06news3.php
Tony
Cummings
PIVITPLEX - The King In A
Rookery (Hawley)
The Montana five-piece's 2003
debut 'Under Museum Quality Glass' was good but this is breathtaking.
Pivitplex have reinvented themselves and as a result America's
influential CCM magazine called it "an unbelievable alternative power
pop masterpiece" and Christian music's "answer to 'Sgt Pepper' and
'Pet Sounds'." Searing guitar riffs, odd instrumentation, sweeping
string arrangements and intricate vocal harmonies collide to make one
of the most intriguing musical soundscapes heard for years while
tracks like the punk-tinged "The Deal" and "I Am Alive" sound like
they could be monster radio hits. All in all, an audio feast for all
pop and rock fans.
Tony Cummings
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
JONNY LANG - Turn
Around (A&M, US import)
After 'Long Time
Coming' indicated to the world that American cult hero Jonny Lang had
become a Christian 'Turn Around' confirms the deal with an
uncompromising album. Blue eyed soul is the underlying vibe throughout
this excellent collection of songs and vocally Lang has one of those
goose bump-inducing voices where if he were just singing the
proverbial phone directory you'd be reduced to tears! Thematically,
here are a bunch of songs that are peppered with references to express
his faith. Then there are plenty of moments when Jonny's searing blues
guitar comes to the fore while his accompaniments are awash in
Hammond! The result is stunning! He's become a Christian and wants
others to do the same. "One Person At A Time" sets out his manifesto,
the groovy "Thankful" sees him duetting with fellow blue-eyed soul man
Michael McDonald but it's the country-tinged, stripped down "Only A
Man" that sees him confessing his need of Jesus that sits at the heart
of this excellent album. It's a track you must hear.
Mike
Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
NOEL ROBINSON & NU IMAGE
- Garment Of Praise (One Voice)
Noel Robinson
has delivered good albums in the past and he is rightly recognised as
an excellent songwriter and guitar player. He's also been the key
figure in awakening Britain's African Caribbean church to the concept
of the worship leader. With 'Garment Of Praise' everything came
together at once. Whether it's the tight vocal performances that shine
throughout the album, the uncompromising focus on worship throughout
the two discs or the fact that these songs simply minister to the
listener, it's all working! My own personal highlights include the
faith stirring "You Are My Healer" complete with testimonies at the
end, and the unreservedly '70s funk vibe of the title cut which must
be the most rhythmic praise song recorded in the UK this year. Here
are 18 songs that cross genre and church boundaries with a dynamic
unique British sound.
Mike Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
DOWNHERE - Wide-Eyed And
Mystified (Centricity)
After a couple of
releases on Word Records without huge success, a change of label is
working well for this Canadian quartet. This year's release combines
strong melodies with groovy pop rock power and a double lead vocal
attack that is infectious. The 13 songs captured here also see the
band hit new heights. Whether it's the thunderous "The More" or the
quieter "Unbelievable" and "The Real Jesus", it's the group's
insightful songwriting which leaps out of the speakers. The bawled "A
Better Way" is one of the best songs released this year with its view
of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. With gigs promised in the UK
in 2007, maybe this will be the year that Brits discover the power of
the music by these Canadian cousins.
Mike Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
THE BRONZEMEN - Spiritual
Singing By The Bronzemen: Radio Transcriptions 1939
(Document)
Not really a 2006 release (in fact this CD
was originally issued in 1996, in Austria no less), the obscurity of
both these original recordings and their reissue, by the amazing
Document Records, means that it falls on Cross Rhythms to shine a
belated spotlight on the amazing music captured here. Recorded for
radio broadcast in April and September 1939, these tracks demonstrate
the jubilee harmony style in all its pristine, spine-tingling power.
If you've been put off acappella music by all those dull albums by
white harmonisers Nashville released in the '90s these historic sides
by a completely unknown quintet will amaze you. Beautiful,
harmonically dense versions of timeless spirituals like "Standing In
The Need Of Prayer", "Down By The Riverside" and "Deep River" reach
effortlessly across the decades while the track "I Want To Be A
Christian" reveals something truly transcendent.
Tony
Cummings
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE
FAMILY BAND - Colorblind (Warner Bros, US import)
The Jimi Hendrix of the pedal steel guitar serves up a flashy set
blending together sacred steel, blues, rock and gospel to create
something unique. From the horn filled funk of "Diane" to the
understated groove of "Homecoming", every track leaps out of the
speakers and into your soul. Randolph has reigned in his tendency to
create huge jams and instead given us a tight spare album packed with
dynamic performances that proves he's the best pedal steel player in
the world. The fact that special guest Eric Clapton gets upstaged on
the fabulous version of the Doobie's/dc Talk's "Jesus Is Just Alright"
is testimony to Randolph's genius. I've been playing that track to
death on Rimmerama and like the rest of this album, it never fails to
make jaws drop.
Mike Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
swichfoot are awesome band!!