STYLE: Orchestral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 18932-10685 DISTRIBUTION: 2B 2BR12512 FORMAT: CD Album
This product is currently not available from Cross Rhythms Direct
Reviewed by Rick Gregory
Carolyn Arends is the Canadian singer/songwriter known to many UK CCM fans. This is the eighth of Carolyn's nine CDs to date. This offering could easily be overlooked as just another Christmas album but to its credit it's fresh and imaginative. Opening with the beautifully arranged "The Irrational Season (Prelude)" Carolyn then goes into the smooth flowing "Come And See". From then on in we're treated to a succession of well arranged and well written songs with the Christmas theme flowing through. Some of Carolyn's own making and some of her arrangements, there is also a seasoning of classic Christmas tunes like "Angels We Have Heard On High", "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus". Throughout the album we are presented with the old theme but brought in a fresh way. Seven of the songs were written by Carolyn at the request of her church over a period of many years. A new song every Christmas. It's a skill to be able to present something that's been said a thousand times in a new way but Carolyn Arends has this gift.