STYLE: Roots/Acoustic RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 174649-28028 LABEL: Great Comfort FORMAT: CD Album
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
Those who've been following the acoustic end of Christian music will remember Bifrost Arts' albums. One of the co-founders of Bifrost Arts was songsmith Joseph Pensack and now, as Hallowell, he offers his haunting songs over accompaniments which range from minor key folk rock to Beatle-esque style arrangements. The mood throughout is laidback and one or two of Hallowell's melody lines are a tad repetitive but with some strong lyrics ("The words he has spoken shall surely prevail") and some surprises in the arrangements, like the trombone that comes in on one track and the sudden appearance of some phone voicemails on another, it is never less than interesting. There's also a rendition of much loved hymn "Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior", which sounds like something from Bifrost Arts' two anthologies of hymns and spiritual songs. If you're looking for up tempo dynamics in your music, this isn't the album for you. But if you're prepared to enter into the reflective music of an intelligent songsmith, I'd recommend 'Hallowell'.
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