NFN Review – SANDRA McCRACKEN : Light in the Canyon. (Integrity Music)

Already with seventeen albums to her name(!), it is surprising that her eighteenth represents my introduction to Nashville-based Sandra McCracken’s music. And what a great album this is, with Sandra’s ‘backwoods Americana’ vocals well to the fore and supported by a cracking band delivering superbly delivered and sympathetically arranged piano-led accompaniments. As I listened to her clearly sung and well written scripture-based lyrics I was reminded of Iris DeMent’s pure and clear voice and accent – she is the sort of singer whose personality seems to become apparent as you listen. Despite Sandra’s delivery style, this is not an Americana album – the ten songs here combine gospel, folk, country, and even contemporary cool jazz. With instrumental breaks allowing individual musicians to shine, sound quality is excellent and has a ‘recorded live in the studio’ feel. Things kick off with the almost seven minute bluesy/jazzy ‘Send Out Your Light’, with piano, bass, drums and brass and an extended improvised instrumental piano break towards the end. ‘I will sing’ is mid-paced pop ccm, then ‘Trinity Song’ (“bind us together in holy love”) features a slow, simple melody and lyrics. ‘Thy Mercy, My God’ (“Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart”) comes next, with a top notch solo piano accompaniment. Then comes ‘We will feast in the house of Zion’ (“we will sing, our hearts restored”) which features effective harmony bvs. The upbeat and bouncy ‘Hold to God’s unchanging hand’ brings strummed acoustic guitar to the mix, whilst an electric guitar is heard in the gospelly ‘Call upon Him’ (“there is power in the Name”). The slow and reflective ‘Have mercy’ (“oh Lord, have mercy”) follows, and then comes my standout track ‘Christ is the life of the world’, featuring a particularly creative accompaniment and superb acoustic bass playing that takes a lead towards the end. The lovely slow ballad closer ‘Until He comes again’ is a ‘holy communion’ song with an emphasis on Christ’s return, and features support from Andrew Osenga. On the strength of this excellent release I am about to check out Sandra’s considerable back catalogue. Comfortably worth a full 10/10. Dave Deeks

NEW RELEASES FROM INTEGRITY MUSIC

Seattle-born alternative band Citizens introduce their second single off upcoming album, ‘Imagination’. This song comes from a raw situation, staying true to Citizens’ true and relatable songwriting that reached deep places in their audience’s souls. Frontman Zach Bolen explains that the last words spoken to him by a person he really cared about before dying were painful ones, all because they weren’t seeing eye to eye. ‘Imagination’ is a response, “I wrote the most ‘I don’t want to fight anymore’ song I could think of, one that could inspire them to look past the anger and find the kid in them again,” says Zach. There is a magnetism in the chorus of this song, pulling listeners out of nowhere like a twisting rollercoaster ride that you don’t want to miss out on. And while the inspiration comes from a heavy place in life, this song is the protest against it all, full of happiness and hope. But Citizens also play with the perception from the very title of their new single – challenging the thought that differing beliefs and opinions are threats to Christianity. ‘Imagination’ seeks to reconcile the ever-present divide of humanity, bringing us back to a place of relationship with one another and with the source of our inspiration, Jesus. Citizens dare their audience to dream beyond what they can see, to ask questions, dance in the mystery, and stand on a hope that will not disappoint them. “‘Imagination’ is easily one of the most exciting and instantly infectious songs that we’ve ever written,” Zach adds. With their second single, Citizens inspire us to reconsider our perception of the Divine with music that pushes the boundaries of what “Church music” usually sounds like.

All age worship movement Worship For Everyone are back with a new single just in time for Pentecost! ‘Move’ drives home that the Holy Spirit is accessible to all, reflecting Worship For Everyone‘s heart to unite the Church around a new way of experiencing corporate worship. ‘Move’ is a song filled with fun and energy, painting a beautiful picture of the reality of God’s Spirit in our lives. This time, Worship For Everyone‘s Nick and Becky Drake take a back seat as the song is led by the couple’s daughter, Daisy Drake, alongside Noah Smith (NOAH). The new single is full of 80s synths and drum fills, mixing old school tones with relatable and fresh vibes. With ‘Move’, the UK-based movement bridges the gap between generations and challenges the barriers between what is considered ‘for children’ and ‘for adults’ to instead build the family of God.

Sandra McCracken releases ‘Thy Mercy, My God’, a song inspired by an old hymn book, Gadsby’s Hymns. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter wrote the melody for ‘Thy Mercy, My God’ more than twenty years ago, yet she proves that some songs are timeless both musically and lyrically. The new single boasts a beautiful and moody piano soundbed, on which Sandra McCracken‘s warm vocals soar. Recorded live in Laity Lodge, ‘Thy Mercy, My God’ is part of songs which Sandra McCracken is reintroducing in a live, jazz-infused context. The artist’s signature folk voice and Americana influence seep through the track, giving it a unique flavor in today’s worship sphere. With the enduring poem ‘Thy Mercy, My God’, Sandra McCracken reveals that she is a musician by craft, trade, and gifting, but ultimately, she is a storyteller at heart.