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You may well know the name Graham Ord; he appeared with two of his own songs on each of the
Vineyard Canada albums I Believe and All I Need, and last year released a disc of ambient guitar instrumental sounds, Waiting, to soothe and enthuse the soul. He also wrote a composition for Vineyard UK's brilliant Come Now is the Time release, put to stunning effect there by Wendy Whitehead and co. Born and
raised in England, Graham was formerly part of UK group The Wesley Brothers, and his music has taken him to various parts of the world performing alongside a number of well-known musicians and speakers.
Recorded in London / St Albans, England and Vancouver, Canada, this album represents Graham's 'widow's mite' offering to the Lord. A collection of 13 self-penned tunes written over a number of years, Ord confesses
these songs were 'fashioned during some very painful periods in my life'. Indeed, while a couple of tracks (notably the charming 'You pour out favour') hold a congregational-friendly worship flow, none of these
'offerings' carries the anthemic country rock celebration of, say, 'I Believe' or 'Amen Hallelujah'
(two of his Vineyard contributions). Instead, we find poignant perspectives of gospel narratives - as in the beautiful 'Love lies bleeding'
- philosophical reflections on life, songs of adoration and surrender, and personal expressions of grief, which, notes Ord perceptively in relation to the haunting 'To love', is 'the tax we pay on loving so much!'
Graham has a beautiful, velvety, country-tinged voice that is sometimes reminiscent of Ricky Skaggs (I even think he looks a bit like him!) or Remnant Records' Andrew Smith. Add the sensitive touch of various musical
tools such as violin, cello, a selection of percussive aids and Graham's own guitars and mandolin, and the sound that emerges is one of gliding, tender beauty from beginning to end. Clearly a highly personal disc, Graham's
Offering truly reaches into the deepest place - the heart - with these 'honest to God'
compositions. Personally speaking, I consider the hour-plus recording a true reflective gem.
Review by tom lennie |
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