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"Awake"
It gets a bit confusing, but Youth Alive NSW are not the same as the Hills Youth team who recently produced the 'United Live' output, although both groups come from New
South Wales, Australia; both are part of the Christian Life Centre network of churches; and both these recordings feature Marty Sampson as one of the writers/worship leaders! Hills Youth are in fact part of Hillsongs CLC, Sydney,
whereas Youth Alive are the combined musical talents of numerous other (mainly) CLC churches throughout NSW. This team have two previous recordings to their name ("One" and "Plan"), though the present venture is
described as their "hottest release yet" with "a stronger praise and worship affinity". OK, now we've established their identity, we can proceed with the review.
As suggested by the cover design and
album title, this platter of energy is meant to awaken and invigorate. It begins to do this by bolting into action with a high-voltage slice of ska-praise complete with brass section; a musical style also found on 'Never Alone'.
Musical intensity increases further with the grunge-sounds of 'Saviour', delivered by the album's
producer Paul Andrew, and the closing 'Follow You', where Marty Sampson's approach is rather different to the contributions he
offers to "United Live".
Kate 'Frank' Spence(don't ask me why!) provides words, music and voice to several cuts here, such as the refreshingly toned-down sounds of 'Deeper', the equally soulful feel of 'Save the
people' and the passionate 'My freedom' (this one not self-penned). Her own 'Bless the Lord', while essentially gentle and sensitive, rises to a driving anthem of exalted praise in the chorus line. All songs on the album are brand
new, with the exception of 'Devoted' from UK's Martyn Layzell, a 1998 track most tenderly re-lived here.
An intense package indeed. This is as much true musically as spiritually; despite it's innovation and intrigue I
somehow didn't find it quite as worshipful as "United Live". But perhaps it is unjust to make comparisons, these two albums having different styles and a different overall feel. I close with the prayer of Youth Alive NSW
director Christine Caine that "this
album become a wake up call in your life" and that "it challenge you to greater heights for Him".
Review by tom lennie
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