The 'Enter The Worship Circle' series embraces new rhythms and influences.

THE POPULAR series of American worship albums 'Enter The Worship Circle' has taken an unexpected change of musical direction from the earlier acoustic-orientated albums. The new project, 'Village Thrift: Circa 2005', will take in synth-driven rhythms. Read a press release, "Fans of the Chemical Brothers, Moby, David Byrne and Bjork will dig this new album from 'Enter The Worship Circle'. This is a never before heard synthesis of urban, electronica, experimental and the Psalms, ranging from the energy of Gwen Stefani to the melancholy of Radio Head on a bad day."

The project has been put together by Ryan Lott, Todd Berger and Ben and Robin Pasley. Lott is a composer for Cleveland-based dance ensemble Inlet Dance Theater and half of 2% Milk, an experimental hip-hop funk collaboration. He also helps to lead worship at NewSong church in Cleveland Heights. Berger is a member of the band Volatile Blue and another worship leader at NewSong. In 2000 Todd met Ben and Robin Pasley, who had been developing the 'Enter The Worship Circle' series of recordings since 1999. Today Ben leads the new music cooperative Worship Circle Records, a growing network of independent artists. CR

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