Issue 59: October/November 2000

Reviews

DELIRIOUS?
Glo
Furious? FURYCD3 CD Book (Furious? Records)
In the spontaneous bit at the end of "God You Are My God", Martin exhorts "Everyone around the world, sing" and there is the heart of this album. Waking up to the fact that their praise songs have ignited a generation, affected the Church globally and sold by the bucketload, God diverts them from their next assault on the pop charts. Delirious? are still committed to taking their music outside the walls of the Church but here they manage to combine everything that makes them a powerful force. Imagine 'Cutting Edge' style lyrics - passionate, inspiring, intimate - and then combine that with spontaneous moments where the band go for it (reminiscent of 'Live & In The Can') and if that isn't enough, throw in the production quality and dense sound of 'Mezzamorphis'. The result is something very special indeed! 'Glo' to these ears is the pinnacle of their recording career so far, combining musical depth and intricacy with lyrics that impact deeply. To avoid writing an essay, I'll just give you some edited highlights! "Investigate" is one of the most moving intense songs the band have ever recorded and with other tracks here if they hadn't recorded a couple of lighter songs like the moving "What Would I Have Done?", "Intimate Stranger", the energy contained here might have slain people! Talking of energy, check out "My Glorious" which is destined to become classic Delirious? complete with a chorus of 150 D:fans worshipping along in football crowd fashion. This rentacrowd turn up elsewhere to superb effect. Other highlights are the poppy "Hang On To You" (already covered by Lunahalo on their debut) and the band's own version of Stu G's "Awaken The Dawn" complete with bagpipers! "Everything" has some brilliant Phil Manzaneira-style guitar from Stu whilst it's a bunch of monks from Ampleforth Abbey whose contribution to "God You Are My God" steals the show. Who would have thought you'd ever hear a D:album that would open up with monks singing and close with a string quartet coda but then 'Glo' is no ordinary album, like it says, it's a soundtrack for life. The music's perfect but what has Martin done with his hair? (Not that I can talk!)
Mike Rimmer

DJ DOVE
The New Era
Only God OGD 6063 CD Mail (£14.99 from Spirit Music, 143 Leeson Drive, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9RF)
Best known as the leader of the Gospel Gangstas, DJ Dove actually is one of the founding members of gospel rap pioneers SFC. Back after a bit of a break and still sounding hot, this is a mighty leap forward from 'Devil's Worst Nightmare'. There's plenty of versatility here as he works with his fellow rappers to integrate elements of soul, hip hop and rock together to make something fresh. For example "Set It Off" takes an alternative rock riff and builds into something intense and powerful. At the other extreme, you have high powered interactive preaching live in front of a church crowd on "Wanna Get High" before he embarks on the most hilarious call and response I've heard in ages - Everybody say J..J..J..J..J..Jesus!" - make sure you check that one out! Rapper Thousandfoot goes all out on "Sonshine", a groove built around the riff and chorus of Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" proving that it's possible to recycle anything! Elsewhere you get soulful stuff on "Where Ya At?" and a groovy piece of classic funk underpins "Rhyme Animal" before it breaks into a hardcore chorus. Love the energy, this is totally together, completely compelling and unstoppable!
Mike Rimmer

EDEN'S BRIDGE
All In A Life
Straightway Music SWD0235 CD/Cass Book (Word)
This album is a real treat. Eden's Bridge are a band from West Yorkshire and they've already produced several albums of Celtic-style worship which have received good reviews. 'All In A Life' showcases their own original songs, and there's not a bad one amongst them. Sarah Lacy's crystal clear vocals (which put me in mind of the early Judy Mackenzie) soar over wonderful musical backgrounds. There's a hint of Iona in there from time to time - which is not surprising, given the presence of Terl Bryant on drums and percussion - but the sound is somehow simpler and clearer. The lyrics are superbly evocative and instill a sense of awe and wonderment in the midst of the everyday and mundane - "Picture Me" and "Catching The Breeze" being the most successful of a great bunch of songs which also include delightful tracks such as "More Than This", "You Bring Me Joy" and "Little Heaven". Sarah's brother, Richard, pulls the whole project together with some great keyboard playing, while David Bird and John Large do sterling work on guitars and basses. The presence amongst the guest artists of Michael McGoldrick on pipes and whistles and Richard Ford on violin also enhances the sound even further. A sleevenote remarks that "We've seen the rhythms and instrumentation flow from the lyrics..." and there's no doubt that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has made this album what it is. Listen and be enchanted.
Ian Hayter

ANDREW JENKINS LAMB
Worlds Collide
Little Misty LMSTAD70 CD/Cass Mail (£14.50 CD/£10.50 Cass from Little Misty Music, PO Box 8, Perth PH2 7EX)
From the opening seconds of ambient sound that launches "A Place To Go," before guitar and drums kick in, through to the closing catchy chorus of the rocking "Born Again", Andrew Jenkins Lamb proves that he has his musical finger firmly placed on the contemporary pulse. Whether it's songs that have the depth to deal with a spiritual reality in a non-cliched way or it's the edgy pop attack and assured production of the album, here's a talent that you need to welcome into your music collection. AJL has an excellent expressive voice and whether he's tackling a tender ballad like "I Wish I Knew" which creatively describes the journey to salvation and the realities of the struggles to hear God speak or he's going full pelt on the more up tempo numbers, Andrew delivers. The understated rocker, "Praying For You" takes faith out of the Church and into the street whilst "Baptise Me" is built round an epic loop which suits the anthemic feel of the track. But for me the two outstanding tracks are "Angels" which is a poignant look at the pain of marital breakdown and the title cut only demonstrates that amidst all the understanding of real life and faith expressed elsewhere, Andrew has the heart of a poet! Astoundingly good across the board!
Mike Rimmer

BEN OKAFOR
Coffee With Lazarus
Plankton PCDN 156 CD Mail (£14.99 from Plankton Records, PO Box 13533, London E7 0SG)
It's been eight years since Nigerian born Ben Okafor blessed us with a new album so it isn't surprising that with Lazarus in the title, it should feel like Ben himself has come back from the dead. I've always enjoyed his music and appreciated his skills as a performer, songwriter and observer on previous releases but this album surpasses everything that has gone before. For me, it just feels as though Okafor has finally delivered an album that fully captures his huge talents. Vocally his golden voice is full of emotion (a friend popped his head round the door while I was listening and asked whether it was Bob Marley!) and the arrangements and overall vibe is deliciously full. Recorded in America with room to let the songs breathe, this is fine music mixing reggae, African and various World music styles together into an infectious blend. There's the classic sound of "Deep Love" and the poignant message of "Give Food" which examines the feeding of the five thousand and seeks to provoke the listener to feed the hungry and share God's love. It's powerful stuff. As for my favourite? That has to be the joyful African rhythms of "You'll Be Fine". Listening to this, I don't just want 'Coffee With Lazarus", I want breakfast, lunch and dinner! This is excellent!
Mike Rimmer

PSALMISTRY
All This Noise
ICC ICCD47230 CD Book (ICC)
Anyone who caught the breathtaking "Take My Hand" on last issue's The Experience sampler will know that the band have moved into a more guitar-orientated approach on many of the cuts here with a sound which is a bit like Moby in his punk rock mode. "Take My Hand" improves with every play and I can't wait to see the MTV video! Elsewhere, I can detect influences as diverse as Basement Jaxx and Asian Dub Foundaiton with the band's eclectic marriage of breakbeat, drum'n'bass, punk, techno, grunge and hip hop exploding in a variety of dazzling rhythms courtesy of the band's resident mixmaster Tony 'The Psalmist' Silcock. The departure of Lucy Britten to V*enna is obviously a loss but Helen and newcomer Debbie are no slouches and the rantings of Edi have never sounded more electrifying. With more song hooks than the band's last set on Word, the group have clearly stepped up a gear and with "Knucklehead" and "Crunchtime" sure to follow "Take My Hand" onto the Cross Rhythms playlist, and a bargain price (£9.99) for the launch of this album, this has all the potential of being a big Christian music hit.
Tony Cummings

THE VIOLET BURNING
Demonstrates Plastic And Elastic
Ruby Electric 657-560000-1 2 CD Book (Word)
Velvet Burning's fourth outing, 'Demonstrates Plastic And Elastic' is a vast melting pot of influences whilst keeping an integrity and consistancy. I detected influences as diverse as Marc Bolan (complete with feather Boa) through to Garbage, whilst sensing flirtations with U2, Cure (even the lipstick) and The Choir. On the track "Moon Radio" it appears Violet Burning sampled Bev Bevan's drum track from the ELO song "Don't Bring Me Down". Not a drummer regularly lifted, for the same reason as Ringo Star, I suppose! The Long Beach, California four-piece band enjoy a somewhat ardent following. They tour almost continually, both nationally (US) and internationally, and have gone over well on MTV Europe and their video of "The Sun And The Sky" is regularly on the playlist. They have also had five of their songs played on MTV in the US. This is an extremely enjoyable album with a feeling of raw emotion as well as the sense of subtlety and depth, with well crafted, original songs. "Oceana", "We Close Our Eyes" and "Seamonster" are among my favourite songs, but I'll happily listen to the others with no forwarding, again and again. I highly recommend this album!
Andrew Privett

WEB REVIEWS

YFRIDAY
http://www.yfriday.co.uk/
Everybody's favourite rock worship team from Newcastle, the band site is well worth a visit. A soft blue home page introduces the links which are on offer so, although the page itself lacks content, it lists seven main option buttons to click onto. These "buttons" lead into new choice areas which may, in turn, be clicked on to lead into various link sites. The Merchandise page gives the chance to order a copy of the 'Rainmaker' CD or tape and to choose from a range of baseball and normal T-shirts for girls and guys. The Gigs And Tour Info page is well put together and the News page is informative and varied, containing material of topical interest. The Photo:diary page features "mini" snaps of group members and concert scenes: a strong magnifying glass would be an asset here but clicking onto individual prints helps a little by making the features more recognisable! There is a really neat way of checking out Ben, Dez, Gav and Ken on Band Profiles: just click onto a photo and move a square onto the head of a member and an informative character profile appears. The Promo:pages site contains two articles: the first contains an interview with Mike Rimmer featured in the Oct/Nov '99 Cross Rhythms and the second is by Derek Green of Direction Magazine (Jan 2000). Also on this page is a copy of the biography of Yfriday used on the 'Calling All Nations' tour literature. In summary: a great site! It will be very interesting to see how this site develops in the future.
8/10
Peter Williams

Cross Rhythms Magazine reviews every Christian album on national release in the UK, together with as many imports and independent releases that we can get hold of! If you want to keep up to date with the best Christian music you can buy, then subscribing to Cross Rhythms should be your first move.