Highlands Worship - Shine Heaven's Light: A Christmas EP
STYLE: Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 178315-29073 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: Digital Only EP RELEASE DATE: 2019-11-01
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
With over 1000 active members on its books, this live-recorded festive EP from the praise team at the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama is a suitably epic affair. As if to prove this point, an uncharacteristically upbeat and percussive rendition of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" features three sets of drums descending from the ceiling and played mid-air whilst singers Nicole McLean and John Larson offer up a fresh and strings-laden slant on this much-covered classic. Further innovation is evident in "Born In Bethlehem" - effectively a mash-up of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and "Away In A Manger" set to a brand new melody with Grammy-winner Micah Massey at the helm - whilst originals like "The Earth Stood Still" and "Let There Be Peace" tell of nativity events in stirring fashion. Completely out of the blue, a blues country guitar-infused take on the old carol "Joy To The World" is a lot of fun and shows that this talented troupe from the Alabama hills know how to let their collective hair down whilst they craft a hugely original and satisfying Christmas release.
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