Sends visions of people singing, clapping and dancing to your imagination.
author: Geoff Howlett
Listening to the album, as a whole, it does run like a live praise & worship event. The opening "We Are One" sends visions of people singing, clapping and dancing to your imagination. "Sing to the Lord" and "Thank You" slow things down a bit and, as well as sounding a little alike, I found the repetitiveness of the former rather grating on the ear. "Kyrie Eleison" has a nice stripped-down acoustic sound and, in similar mould, "Not Alone" is beautifully sang. There's an interesting arrangement of the old hymn "Praise His Name", plus a live recording of "Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, and both work well.
David's vocals still slip into the Dylanesque style, at times, but I think that it's this quality that helps to make an appealing listen. At times, there seems to be over use of instruments - like on "I Love The Rain", and, perhaps, this needs a some attention. But, otherwise, The Reign can be well satisfied with this release.
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More than just a first outing from a newish band
author: Howard Dobson
It's all there - gorgeous harmonies, intricate guitar work, catchy riffs - and the songwriting too is of a high standard and makes this more than just a first outing from a newish band.
Highlights include Kyrie Eleison, which would sit snugly on a worship album from a major label; and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, one of three bonus tracks recorded live at St Barnabas, Swanland.
In the room for improvement department, the worship ballads seem to outweigh the rockier tracks, and it would have been nice to know more of who did what.
Bearing in mind the plethora of worship material available, the real selling point here is that it is local musicians praying for their city and encouraging those around them, and with suitable encouragement from both this team could go on to greater things.
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