Matthew Macaulay - Life Light

Published Tuesday 25th September 2012
Matthew Macaulay - Life Light
Matthew Macaulay - Life Light

STYLE: Pop
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 127781-19518
LABEL: Matthew Macaulay 98482
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RELEASE DATE: 2012-08-15
RRP: £9.99

Reviewed by Tim Holden

Matthew is the worship leader at Soul Survivor, Watford, and this is his second album, this time with Dan Weeks producing. The album opens Matthew's haunting vocals flowing over a synth backdrop before crashing up a gear at the end of the chorus with driving drums and ringing guitar line giving real energy and power to the lyrics. This is followed by a full on rocker with Matthew letting rip exhorting us to "Think Upon The Cross" and what Christ did there for us, before settling down to a slightly more sedate pace. Matthew is equally at home with the ballad, "Look To The Skies" being a wonderful example, and the beautiful rendition of "Turn Your Eyes" with just his vocals and piano really revitalises this old song. It would be very easy to compare Matthew's musical approach with Coldplay as both favour anthemic songs with strong piano lines and crescendo-building production. All in all, an uplifting album.

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Product Description
Matthew Macaulay is worship leader at St Andrew’s, Chorleywood.

In the last ten years Matthew has finished school, worked in a department store (which has since shut down), lived in Sydney for two years and spent time at Hillsong church, worked in a sports shop (for over 4 years!), worked in the music industry, recorded his first album As for me, moved out of home (although still goes back regularly to be fed), has worked as an associate director for a wonderful organisation called Onelife, has been based in Chorleywood and is very excited to have another opportunity to make a second album with an amazing group of people.

“We all have some understanding of darkness. Dark is opposite to light. Darkness is a nuisance, its irritating, energy sapping and can turn dreams into a blur. The thing about darkness is that it makes the light obvious, irresistible and undeniable. You recognise the Light in darkness. Its what gives you hope and life for another day. “The LifeLight blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out”.

In the last seven or so years I have come to realise that although you can find yourself in some pretty dark places, the light never goes out, in-fact, it gets brighter, clearer and you depend on it more. Those that have gone before us have never described following Jesus as something easy, comfortable and economically lucrative.

Where did the concept of Life/Light come from? It’s hard to put a finger on it. As I pondered the list of the songs I’d written since my previous album, this theme of Life and Light kept appearing. I did some study and it all just seemed to make so much sense. It has been confirmed time and again from bits of church liturgy to Eugene Peterson’s John 1 passage in The Message which is entitled “The Life-Light” which sums the whole thing up rather well. Life/Light has been a bit like seeing a new model of car for the first time. Once youve seen it, it suddenly begins to appear all over the place.

I really believe in this project, the songs, the production, the journey, the relationships and the investment and I pray that it will bring Life and Light to all those who hear it.”

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