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"Personal Worship"
Stuart Townend has become a much respected song-writer and worship leader in the UK, brought to prominence by his participation in the hugely popular
Stoneleigh annual music and teaching events. "Personal Worship", Stuart's second solo project, is precisely that; a homing-in on the artist in simple expression of personal worship to his Lord and King. There is no
support band, no heavy production sounds, and no backing vocalists even. Just Stuart alone, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar or piano. In the words of Matt Redman's 'The heart of worship' - 'all is stripped away...and I
simply come'.
The result is simple and beautiful, as Stuart weaves his way through an impressive collection of ten new and self-penned songs, along with two from other writers. These are Swedish singer/song-writer Viola's
gorgeous 'We bow down', and the old hymn 'I know not why God's wondrous grace', here given Stuart's own arrangement, and sung with no accompaniment whatever. Only an artist with true musical integrity would dare step into the
vulnerability of an 'exposed' recording like this; but such is the richness of Mr Townend's fine voice, his giftedness as a song-writer and the ability of his musicianship, that it works most effectively. The songs here are not
simple choruses, but thoughtful and often wordy modern hymns, rich in both poetic content and spiritual depth. Only two of these Townend-tunes have appeared elsewhere. The nativity classic 'From the squalor of a borrowed stable
(Immanuel)' and the yearning cry of 'Your Love (Pour over me)' both appear
in a very different setting on Stoneleigh 99's "Covenant of Grace" release.
This is an album you'll come back to again and again; to
relax in it's tenderness, to meditate on it's truths, and to offer, along with Stuart, your own 'personal worship' to the Lord.
Review by tom lennie |
