William Chong

Keith and Kristyn Getty: Awaken the Dawn

A collection of well-crafted modern hymns destined for building up the next generation of believers. A

In a time when most Christian artists are aiming for relevance in their music and lyrics, and churches increasingly opt for praise songs where you’re not sure whether you’re singing about God, your girlfriend/boyfriend or pet cat, the Gettys are certainly a breath of fresh air. Songwriter Keith Getty is most well-known for co-writing the now-mainstream worship standard, “In Christ Alone”, while Kristyn (née Lennox) is a stellar soprano who continues her noteworthy singing and career through the couple’s sophomore release.

“Awaken the Dawn” is a tour-de-force of easy-to-grasp melodies, powerful lyrics, orchestrated in a lush, Celtic style drawn from the Getty’s Irish roots. It’s a clutch of 12 modern hymns that chronologically traces the journey of a worship service in a seamless concept-album style. From the call to worship “Hear, O Israel” through to the final closing numbers of “May the Peace of God” and “What Grace is Mine”, each song reflects the Gettys’ intention of writing songs to “get people of every generation all across the world to sing… songs that will build up the Church and enable people to express more about who God is.” The album title comes from Psalm 57 – read out on the penultimate track by Kristyn in a charmingly Irish brogue.

On listening through the album, there’s a number of gems suitable for congregational praise. “By Faith” stands out as an uplifting anthem where the church can exhort: “We will stand as children of the promise”, while “Behold the Lamb (Communion Song)” – co-written with Stuart Townend – is tailor-made for celebrating communion together. Unorthodox time signature aside, “Creation Sings the Father’s Song” uniquely traces the reason for Christian hope through three verses detailing creation, the fall, redemption and consummation. It’s capped off with a resounding and memorable chorus of “Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing… the wonders of creation’s King”.

Other tracks are more comtemplative but equally rich in theology and thoughtfulness. “Compassion Hymn” and “Still, My Soul, Be Still” hone in on God’s peace and compassion, while “When Trials Come” speaks an honest, Job-like account of trusting God even when it hurts. The album closes with “What Grace is Mine“, a hauntingly moving arrangement set to the tune of well-known Irish melody “O Danny Boy”. Kristyn has penned new lyrics that proclaim the Gospel with power and clarity:

“What grace is mine that He who dwells in endless light
Called through the night to find my distant soul
And from his scars poured mercy that would plead for me
That I might live and in his name be known

So I will go wherever He is calling me
I lose my life to find my life in Him
I give my all to gain the hope that never dies
I bow my heart, take up my cross and follow Him …”

This is an album you’ll likely want to savour with your iPod or CD player on repeat, as the words become more and more alive through each playing. At my own church we’ve immensely enjoyed singing some of these songs congregationally. The songs in this album seems set to be well-learnt and enjoyed by theophiles young and old, in countries all around the world.

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Website: http://www.gettymusic.com
Buy their CD: Gettymusic

Disclosures: None to declare.

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Sons of Korah: RAIN

An enthralling musical journey through some of the Bible’s most enduring psalms. A

3000-year-old Psalms. Contemporary music. It’s a surprising mix for those unfamiliar with the rich and hauntingly evocative sounds of Sons of Korah. Their latest album, RAIN, is another well-crafted addition to a discology that has enriched and inspired listeners around the world.

Currently led by Matthew Jacoby and Rod Gear, the Australia-based outfit has been carving out their music since 1993. RAIN delves into psalms that span a wide range of human emotion, employing a musical clarity that leaves one more appreciative of the sacred texts their tracks are based on.

From the soft acoustic guitars and mandolins in He Sits Enthroned (Ps 99) to strong and taiko-like drums in Overwhelmed (Ps 14b), Sons of Korah confidently draw from many contemporary musical styles. There’s the soft Wurlitzer-chords lamenting and thirsting for God in Streams of Water (Ps 42a) under a mournful A minor drone; when Jacoby sings lyrics like “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul thirsts for the living God”, it paints a grittier, and refreshingly realistic take on the psalm.

And when he sings in The Pilgrim Song that “better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Ps 81), it’s equally honest and sincere. Through it all, theologically-trained Jacoby is astute in picking out the right chorus sections, verses and harmonies – who would have thought that Psalm 139 could be turned into a CCM-like praise song in Still with You?

Other highlights heart-wrenching rebuke of “The Fool” (Ps 14a), and a few numbers that suggest what a psalm would sound like as sincere piano ballads in the vein of Elton John’s Your Song. There are strong musical hooks throughout the album that encourage you to literally sing through your Bible reading, and it’s got fantastic production values that set it apart from the plethora of Christian up-and-coming demo EPs.

These guys are experienced, and continue to excel in marrying timely music with timeless lyrics. Kiwis looking to catch Sons of Korah’s music can also celebrate: they’re committing to a New Zealand tour in March 2009.

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Sons of Korah website: http://www.sonsofkorah.com
Buy their CD: CRS Online NZ; CRS Online (International customers)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sonsofkorahmusic
Artist contact: matt at sonsofkorah dot com

Disclosures: None to declare.

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Ethan Waters: A Demo By EP

100% acoustic songs and the continuation of a nostalgic search-for-love narrative. A-. (Update 20/11: The fact that it’s still a repeated feature on my music playlist means I must give credit where credit is due!)

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John Lennon once said that “everything is clearer when you’re in love”, and Ethan Waters heartily affirms this in his latest EP, A Demo By.

The Auckland University graduate film student – also known as Dennis Liu in the daylight hours – made a last-minute change to an album that initially promised a graduation into the daring pop music world. A Demo By now offers five brand-new tracks: a reprise of his tried-and-true acoustic sound that’s at times familiar, but earnest and genuine all the same.

As the natural sequel of his debut EP, Crushes and Waves, this EP picks up right from where the last one ended (even carrying over some of his previous melodies). At first you wonder how much more about life and love Waters can expand on – but Waters reassures us right from The Reminder that he’s got more to sing about.

Waters presents the kind of love songs that you’d play to your significant other on a guitar, accompanied by the picnic basket and blanket overlooking scenic innocence. He’s on the verge of asking her out in Vacancy, sincerely asking “if there’s a vacancy in your heart”. And there’s Tailoring Me, a secular psalm that’s an odd juxtaposition between platonic and romantic love, the lyrics swathed with wistfulness akin to John Mayer’s Daughters.

Waters is a touch more forthcoming with his influences in this EP: All Your Different Names is tender, earnest and half Glen Hansard elegy, half David Tao ballad (without the vagaries of Mandarin lyrics). His choruses are as always full of gentle hooks, whether it’s declaring that “I’m not ready for you to relax…”, or serenading to “Constance, you’re just Constance”. There’s even the pleasant surprise of some beautiful violin-playing that introduces listeners to his classically-trained side.

Admittedly, A Demo By still has a reliance on lyric-writing that’s closer to scattered short-story prose. The words can at times drift perilously those to Evermore-style existentialism (e.g. “Floating in a ‘blind me’ kind of way | across the universal skies”). And the closing track Maybe You’ll Sing gives a less conclusive ending than in his previous EPs. Yet there’s no doubting that this is an album that’s been diligently crafted: it’s wonderfully and fearfully made in a way that captures the nostalgia of dreamy college years.

If you were anticipating from Waters a metamorphosis into a pop star, then stifle your disappointment and take some bated breaths. Waters has promised fans digital single releases for the future – in his own words, “you’re a reminder that I should never stop writing.”

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Contact the artist: waters dot ethan (at) gmail dot com
For music videos and more visit: www.ethanwaters.com; www.myspace.com/ethanwaters

Disclosure: Dennis Liu is a close friend; there are no financial relationships to declare.
Contact the author: lemmingz@gmail.com

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Ethan Waters: Crushes and Waves EP

A college pop audio film about fleeting short distance relationships. B+.

Up and coming singer-songwriter Ethan Waters, who also goes by the pseudonym of Dennis Liu, is onto something. His first EP, Crushes and Waves is a self-described concept album in true singer-songwriter vein providing a well-rounded m�lange of college pop.

Centred on the ubiquitous �that girl� narrative, Waters (currently an Honours film student at Auckland Uni) sings earnestly. He dubs and redubs subtle-yet-significant layers of thoughtful guitar-based instrumentation through the songs. He plays it safe with pleasing acoustic riffs and a rather conservative range of keys, accompanied with smart lyrics that draw on frequent music and film references. His voice is mellow and the music is all him, down to the almost toy-like drum loops. But don�t be surprised to hear clarinets and strings mixed with victorious brass buildups when he sings about spaceships.

Crushes and Waves is an admirable achievement that explores love. He asks, �What do we have to lose anyway?� in Untitled, a mix of Bloc Party rhythm and Jay Chou-style sensitivity. He talks about what�s missing in life in Before we wake, in true never-been-jilted fashion. This is very much a collection of tracks with an underlying, infectious enthusiasm � One Day stands out with its optimism and fairground-fun beats.

Waters doesn�t shy from the soulful or the reflective however � with Where to go�s nostalgic echo drums underpinning heartfelt lyrics, he asks �Am I close to the place that everyone calls love?� The EP�s arc draws a journey of budding love, from the first �Let�s do this before we wake�� to the last ��you were part of every doubt� � almost a tear-jerking moment as the CD spins down.

Yes, there are concerns � Heart on my sleeve could have broken ranks from its Green Day-Time of my Life guitar strums and�step towards a new and daring youth anthem (in the �Oo wo-oh, oo wo-oh�). There�s voice-range issues, just a bit too much of recitative-like lyrics in One of those girls, and some awkwardly sung meter (like when the girl has �absolutely no acting chops�). But maybe Waters�s bold musical enjambments are just what we need in among today�s recycle-pop and hollow top 40 tracks. And if his upcoming music and film works are any indication, this guy�s just getting started.

One Day Music Video � http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbvw0q6h-1U
Website � http://www.ethanwaters.com/
Artist contact � waters dot ethan at gmail dot com

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This review was published in Issue #3 of Craccum magazine on 17 March 2008.

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