Garth Hewitt - Walk The Talk (Re-issue)

Published Sunday 19th February 2012
Garth Hewitt - Walk The Talk (Re-issue)
Garth Hewitt - Walk The Talk (Re-issue)

STYLE: Roots/Acoustic
RATING 6 6 6 6 6 6
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 120927-18823
LABEL: Independent
FORMAT: Digital Only Album

Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Activist and singer/songwriter Garth boldly states on the original sleevenotes that this now digitally re-released offering from 1993 is an "alternative worship album" before brashly going on to say that many worship albums are "triumphalist and concerned only with personal faith and ignore how this relates to life and the hurts of needy world." With this in mind, it comes as no surprise to find Hewitt singing about justice and the oppressed in "For A Fairer World" and "We Hear Your Cry Lord" and other songs influenced by Third World churches and his own encounter with Christ. For the most part though, this Ben Okafor and Gladstone Wilson-produced release lacks the punch delivered by previous, more directly protest-focussed albums such as 'Scars' and 'Lonesome Troubadour' and he seems to have been musically neutered in order to fit into the contemporary worship sphere that he was trying to be an alternative to. In addition, Hewitt's vocal performance is a shadow of the gutsy conviction that had previously been his trademark - not helped by the inclusion of a largely needless and ever present choir - whilst cheesy and clichéd songs such as "Chain Of Love", "Bread Of Life" and "Rise Like The Sun" are simply not strong enough have stood the test of time. A superb rendition of Ray McLoughry's "Lament (Psalm Of Desolation)" ends proceedings on a thought provoking high and, had Hewitt adopted this approach for the rest of this brave but faltering diversion, the result would certainly have been a more groundbreaking and memorable release.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

Be the first to comment on this article

We welcome your opinions but libellous and abusive comments are not allowed.












We are committed to protecting your privacy. By clicking 'Send comment' you consent to Cross Rhythms storing and processing your personal data. For more information about how we care for your data please see our privacy policy.

NAVIGATION
CONNECT WITH CROSS RHYTHMS
SIGNUP

Connect with Cross Rhythms by signing up to our email mailing list

A Step Change...
Cross Rhythms Media Training Centre
MORE ARTICLES
DISCOGRAPHY
ARTIST PROFILES
Artists & DJs A-Z
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Or keyword search

 

PRAYER ROOMS
Courts of Praise
Get close to God, be extravagant in declaring your love for Him in our Prayer Room