Drew Reese's EP is now available at http://drewreese.bandcamp.com. A great worship album from a passionate and anointed songwriter and worship leader, this contains compelling versions of both Chris Tomlin's "Awakening", and Matt Redman's "Facedown", together with 3 self-penned songs from Drew.
My review of this album is here.
A brand new worship EP by Drew Reese will be released tomorrow, February 8th, and Drew has given me a preview copy in anticipation of the release date. This EP contains more powerful, piano-lead worship, encompassing all of Drew's passion and fervour for the Lord. Entitled "Redemption", the EP includes 3 of his own songs, together with new versions of Chris Tomlin's "Awakening", and Matt Redman's "Facedown".
1 Chronicles 16:29 - "Give to the Lord the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come into His presence. Worship the Lord in all His holy splendour."
Worship music can often almost give us visual glimpses of the Lord's power, might, and beauty. The verse above tells us to worship the Lord in all His holy splendour, but in order to do that some of us need some idea of what that is like. The "23rd Psalm" at the start of the EP showed me some of what this is like, of how great it is to be able to worship such an awesome God.
Just as in the first album of Drew's that I came across (Next Door to Eden), here we find contemplative piano-lead worship, seamlessly crescendoing into powerful choruses. The beauty of this album lies in the simplicity of it's production, at many times the orchestration consists merely of piano, vocals, and some strings. This is particularly apparent in "Awakening" - a subtle arrangement, this resists the temptation to replicate previous versions and instead goes down the route of contemplation and heart preparation.
The first two songs on this album sound as if they could have been written at any point in time, by any of the major hymn writers in history. They are, in fact, brand new, and have been written by Drew. Both are effectively sung scripture, there is very little in the verses that is not biblical, though the arrangements, production, and integration all make them sound as if we've been singing them for years. Hopefully, in a few years time, this will be the case, for here I believe we can take some inspiration from Drew's lead, and place hymns to the fore in our times of worship. At a summer conference last year I was touched by their use of hymns, and particularly praise choruses in times of worship, and feel this is something worth remembering when preparing songs to sing to the Lord.
The EP ends with a stirring version of Matt Redman's "Facedown". In my opinion, the best aspect of this song has always been the bridge, which alludes to the light of the Lord's glory. Within the Chronicles verse quoted we are asked to "Worship the Lord in all His holy splendour". For me, the light of the Lord's glory is the most powerful image of Him, radiant and resplendent. To worship Him is an honour, one that Drew holds in high regard, and this passion is prevalent throughout this album.
Drew's album will be available for download from tomorrow (February 8th) at http://drewreese.bandcamp.com.
Following on from last week's review of Drew Reese's gospel-tinged "Next Door to Eden" album, I received a very nice email from Drew over the weekend. Drew has offered readers of this column the opportunity to obtain a 20% discount when downloading this album from his Bandcamp site. Simply enter "rotheram" as the discount code at the checkout and you will receive 20% off!
Drew has been in the studio this past week making finishing touches to his new album - "Redemption" - a collection of worship songs including Matt Redman's "Facedown" and Chris Tomlin's "Awakening". There is a 30-second taster on his site, and after listening to it I'm looking forward to the album. It will be released on the 8th of February, and look out for a review of the album on this site shortly after this date.
Poignant, touching, heartfelt, moving - 4 words I could happily use time and again to describe this album from Drew Reese. From great gospel choruses (Testify To Love) to songs that challenge your heart and mind (Waiting For Lightning) to beautiful instrumental piano (Hymn to the Fallen Soldier), this album has it all. And yet, this is only half the story - the man behind it is quite something too.
Not only is Drew a lifelong musician, a passionate and anointed worship leader, and accomplished songwriter, but he is also a military man - currently assigned to the 23rd Army Band for the Utah National Guard. His military service began with an inner call sparked by the 9/11 attacks, and has seen him posted for a time to the Middle East, serving in Iraq and Kuwait, and also in Afghanistan. His experiences there provide some of the themes central to this album, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the "Hymn to the Fallen Soldier".
It is this track that first drew me towards the album. For a long time one of my favourite pieces of film music has been the "Hymn to the Fallen" from "Saving Private Ryan", and I wondered whether this track would have the same passion and breathtaking reverence as it's namesake. It's safe to say that the hunch turned out to be right, and when I read that the "fallen soldier" was in fact a comrade of Drew's, and that it had been written by Drew upon hearing the news, emotions got the better of me. There is a deeply stirring undertone to this album, and the Lord's presence is all over it.
Drew's style, for me, is very much reminiscent of such contemporary artists as Michael W. Smith and Mark Schulz, with lively, often piano-led praise, and some stirring gospel choruses. particularly present in songs such as "Testify to Love" and "For Such a Time as This". When you listen to this, have a read through his story, and take some time to listen to the lyrics carefully, for it is in the songwriting where the beauty of this album lies.
Drew's album is available at http://drewreese.bandcamp.com, and more information about him and his story can be found on his personal website www.drewreese.com.
I have faced dilemmas in where to focus my attention for the review. Dave Fitzgerald is, without doubt, a gifted and anointed worship leader - the worship sounds lively, there is a lot of congregational interaction, and the worship flows freely, with lots of "headroom" given in all of the songs to allow space for people to worship. Dave is also an unquestionably gifted singer. His voice is powerful, powerful enough to lead with backing vocalists such as Jenn Johnson (see previous reviews) backing him, and to lead a Bethel congregation in worship. Dave is clearly an accomplished pianist, and he leads well from the piano - something slightly different for Bethel where the focus for the leaders I have encountered thus far is often from vocals or guitars. Lastly, Dave is a gifted songwriter - all but one of these songs were self-penned, with some collaborations (including Chris McClarney (Your Love Never Fails) and Brian Johnson (Worship Pastor at Bethel Church, Redding)). So where to focus?
If the aim of this album is more good worship from a thriving church of revivalists and worshippers, then this album ticks all the boxes straight off. The worship is accessible, reverent, powerful and meaningful, and many of the songs on this album would be equally at home on any Jesus Culture album. Where this album comes into it's own, however, is at track 5 - "We Are An Ark". The feel of this track is awesome - laid back yet not restrained, strong yet not overwhelming. Here we see all of the gifts of the band laid plain for the world to see. The sensitive nature of Dave's piano and vocal, Jenn Johnson's succinct backing vocals, Ian McIntosh's ethereal keys and Chris Quilala's drums that provide the catalyst for the build up to the climax of this song make it what it is - great. This track provides the turning point of the album for me - and switches the focus from all of the ancillary factors and theories and places the attention squarely to the Throne of the Lord, and to His glory. Here the album becomes personal, natural, sensitive and glorious. It is here where I "got" this album.
The title track "Hope of Heaven" provides a sublime mix of Jesus Culture and Dave Fitzgerald. The driving drum and bass groove, with the ethereal keys and edgy guitars usually associated with Jesus Culture are interspersed perfectly with a subtle yet very effective piano part from Dave - giving this track it's edge. The album finishes with another 2 nice piano-led tracks - "Shine" (w/ Brian Johnson), and "Sweeter" (w/ Christa Black and Chris McClarney). Once again, we find space, freedom, and subtlety in the piano lines - it's uncomplicated yet more than enough for the atmospheric nature of the songs - which provide a great platform on which the songs can build - which they do to great effect.
I must confess that it took me a few tracks to work this album out, but now I have it is making it's way steadily up my "most played" playlist. I love piano-led worship, it is for some reason more of a rarity in modern worship, but when it is done this well it is a joy to experience. Buy this album, you will not regret it.
You can find more information about Dave at www.davefizgerald.com
