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An energetic and tantalising mix of some of the very best in recent pop-rock praise to emerge from within the UK (+ one from
Hillsong, Aussie-land!), this is the companion album to the Spring Harvest New Songs release. Most - perhaps all - these tunes are likely to be unfamiliar to the listener, as surely for the first time in
the Praise Mix series, not one Matt Redman, Paul Oakley or Martin Smith
song is to be found! Instead we find great new songs from lesser known writers like Tre Sheppard (100 Hours), James Gregory (Heat), Ken Riley (Yfriday), plus a delightful version of Graham
Kendrick's 'To you O Lord', given striking alternative treatment from Kindle's Simon Parkin and band! Indeed it's Kindle who provides instrumental support to several more of these covers, while four other
tracks are lifted directly from the original albums.
Standout tracks? Well, I love the bold punch of the opening 'Good and
gracious', composed and sung by Gareth Robinson; the funky rhythm & blues vibes on Andrew Ginnell's 'As we come (You are worthy)' - a song and writer I was previously unfamiliar with, sung here by Jamie
Hill (from new band Quest); the steadily rising intensity of 'Taste and see', (recently re-recorded for the brand new 100 Hours release); and the singular focus - with tasty guitar break - of
'Lift Him high', gleaned from the Youth event at the traditionally conservative Keswick Conference! In lighter tone, Kindle's own 'State of waiting' is a pensive gem, while Robinson's closing 7-minute
shuffle could well bring you to your knees in heart-felt adoration.
To be honest, every one of these songs is great, making the album an excellent kaleidoscope through which to view so many of Britains
hottest praise-rock properties. With Adrian Thompson (Split Level) doing the production biz, Praise Mix 2002 is a worship resource your youth/music group might well benefit from!
Review by tom lennie
- April 2002 |
