STYLE: Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 160447-23947 LABEL: Fair Trade Services 696859309762 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RELEASE DATE: 2016-04-08 RRP: £9.99
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
California's Phil Wickham has come a long, long way from those years in the mid 2000s when, as a then unknown worship leader with a couple of independent albums out, he would faithfully make the annual trip to minister at CreationFest at that time held in Devon. Of course Phil is one of the major figures in modern worship who can minister in some of America's biggest auditoriums while his songs like "This Is Amazing Grace" have impacted the world Church. This eagerly awaited set is Phil's 11th album and is as strong as its predecessors. The opener "Doxology" is a perfect doorway to which one steps into spirit-led worship. The standout track here is "The Secret Place", a duet performed with Madison Cunningham (another Californian singer who makes regular visits to CreationFest). The blend of Phil's signature vibrato and Madison's angelic tones brings out all the worshipful beauty of the song. Almost as good is Wickham's "Starmaker", its lyrics powerfully conveying the sense of wonder we feel when we consider God's ways ("I can't look away; I am captivated/What else can I say but sing my adoration/You are holy above the Earth"). While on the subject of lyrics, I love the line from the title track "We are soldiers, we're fighting the faith in love." Production by Pete Kipley is spot on. No doubt this album will feed believers for years to come.
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Product Description
18 months ago Phil lost his voice and was forced to have vocal chords surgery that carried the risk of not being able to sing again. During that difficult time, God spoke the simple yet massive truth that He loves us. These songs were written as a response to this deep personal revelation. We are His. We have nothing to fear. We have only hope in front of us. We are the Children Of God.