Before the Throne - Live from NWA 2009

It has been a long time since I last posted, very slack of me. I have loads of things I would like to write about, hopefully I will make more time to do it in the coming weeks. But for the first post back I want to review a cd. "Before the Throne" is the live worship cd from New Word Alive 2009. It is excellent. Songs are lead by Stuart Townend, Lou Fellingham and Keith and Kristyn Getty. If you attended the conference, listening to this is a great way to relive a part of it. It contains old favourites like " Before the Throne," "Oh to see the dawn," and "You are my Anchor (Father's Embrace)." But there are also some new songs (although since it has taken me so long to post this, not so new) which I am sure will become classics. "God Immortal" which is new take on the classic old hymn "Immortal Invisible" I believe, written by Lou Fellingham, is a great song, I've tried it at my church and it went well. "Creation sings" and "Come people of the risen King" are products of the never ending stream of quality new hymns from the Townend, Getty and Getty collaboration sure to be heard in churches round the land for years to come. It is also worth mentioning a very moving solo of "Hear O Israel" performed by Kristyn Getty part way through the album. If you are thinking of buying a new worship cd in the near future and want good music and quality lyrics, look no further.

Album Review - Valley of Vision

After re-listening to this album over the last couple of days I thought I would write a review. Sovereign Grace Music have produced some excellent albums and this is no exception. Inspired by Valley of Vision, a book of Puritan prayers and devotions, the cd of the same name has a great mix of devotional songs suitable for reflection, personal praise and quiet meditation (In the Valley; The Precious Blood) as well as songs which I am sure will be congregational classics in years to come (Heavenly Father, Beautiful Son; Let Your Kingdom Come). There are songs which stick in the mind very easily and you find yourself humming and singing them as you go about the day. What is also very encouraging is that there are songs expressing varying emotions from joy to sorrow and varying themes from grace to perseverance. Heavenly Father, Beautiful Son is a fantastic, expressly Trinitarian song which is rare in todays contemporary worship music. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys listening to praise and worship cds and anyone looking for new songs for their church to sing.