Morningtide is Celtic Worship’s new 12 track studio album. A collection of well known hymns in their own style. Sometimes, when reviewing a release, you are apprehensive. And, sometimes, reluctant or really looking forward to hearing what is on offer. This was certainly the latter. My Celtic music connections are very limited but I saw the review request and immediately looked forward to listening. I had read nothing about Celtic Worship before opening the track listing and my heart jumped when I saw it. Having toured with Michael Farley in recent years, who told the stories behind the hymns, I was taken back to happy times. The instrumentation was sparse at times, percussion and guitar in the main with typical Celtic/Scottish instruments playing relevant parts. I was surprised by the bagpipes which were glorious on track 2 ‘Come Thou Fount.’ Usually I run a mile from bagpipes but the balance and mix was heart lifting. I often complain about ‘thees and thou’s’ on recordings. I don’t ‘speaketh’ that way and usually get turned off by such language. But, on hymns, I can be very traditional. Indeed, I jumped for joy last Sunday when our church celebrated its 90th birthday and sang 2 traditional hymns from the Redemption Hymnal. But I digress. Back to ‘Morningtide.’ ‘I Trust In Jesus’ is not a song I knew. It has a very powerful production with nice harmonies and production. I loved it! Track 4 is a modern classic, ‘How Deep The Fathers Love.’ Once again, the bagpipes appear in the intro and solo later on. I have only have heard it sung reflectively previously but this is declinational. ‘Because He Lives’ has an acapella start, followed by an upbeat driving beat for the verses. Again, I love this hymn (anyone got a tissue!) With Uilleann pipes to the right ear and violin left, Amazing sounds! The next track is another new one to me, ‘Father Of Light’.I warmed instantly to it this song. ‘Psalm 23’ is an interesting mix. There are gentle verses, plus a change of time signature for a short instrumental effortlessly brought in. Also, there are some really tasty bass lines hidden away in the mix too. It reminded me of Iona’s sound. ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ benefits from a gentle version and rousing middle section. ‘Old 100th’ (All people who on earth do dwell) has another, nice, arrangement, which makes you prick up your ears to both the verses and the reprise section. Honestly, you wonder where it is going next.? And then we come to ‘It is Well/I Exalt Thee.’ When I saw the title of the track, I could not believe the anticipation I was feeling. After hearing it, words cannot express how I feel about it. Please do search it out and listen. This has been a pleasure to review, and the album is better than I could of imagined. 10/10. Noel Donaldson.
Never for Nothing 