Reviewed by John Baugh

Visible you ask? This is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's description of the church as the "visible community" carrying the sovereign rule, or kingdom, of God to the world, as salt and light. This vision of a visible community has been translated into a school by Ken Steorts after leaving the band Skillet in 1999 with the clear desire to start something which became Visible School. Enough history I hear - to the item under consideration. As might imagine gathering a few dozen creative Christians together, one of the outputs is original worship - and here it is, loads of it. Eight separate writers, some singing their own songs, some giving them to others. A range of styles from ballad to groovy soul to gutsy guitar-led rock. The artists here won't be known outside of Memphis but Jeremy Horn, Jenn Riegel, Heather Tuttle, Josiah Oslund and Andre Loranc all weigh in with good performances maintaining a freshness throughout and with nearly all the songs of a high standard. The variety is balanced by the production job (also a collaboration of the students and Ken Steorts) which holds it all together into a very satisfying and stylish whole.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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