1. Love Is Good (horizon 2020)
2. Your Love Lifts Me Up
3. Bring Us Hope Again
4. For The One I Love
5. Love Never Dies
6. Flame
7. Take It To The Cross
8. Bamuyita Yesu (he Never Fails)
9. Shout For Joy
10. Lord God Almighty
11. Fear Of The Lord
12. God Of The Impossible
13. Because (i Have Nothing To Give)
14. Loved By Someone Special
15. Copper Tree
16. Love Is The Heart Of Christmas Time
17. Christmas Hope & Glory
18. Love Is The Heart Of Christmas Time (sing-a-long Version)
19. Christmas Hope & Glory (sing-a-long Version)
Friends of Cedar Church - Love, Hope & Glory On The Horizon
Friends of Cedar Church has released a special collection of songs, titled 'Love, Hope & Glory On The Horizon'. The album features songs written by Andrew Kisumba, Senior Pastor of Cedar Church, Birmingham, during his musical journey.
Opening track 'Love Is Good (Horizon 2020)' has a great upbeat tempo and there's something very 'musical theatre' about the whole song. Both the female vocal delivery and musical style - you can just imagine it on the stage in the West End. The feel good vibe continues with 'Your Love Lifts Me Up', this time with a male lead. There's some great brass... Read More Friends of Cedar Church has released a special collection of songs, titled 'Love, Hope & Glory On The Horizon'. The album features songs written by Andrew Kisumba, Senior Pastor of Cedar Church, Birmingham, during his musical journey.
Opening track 'Love Is Good (Horizon 2020)' has a great upbeat tempo and there's something very 'musical theatre' about the whole song. Both the female vocal delivery and musical style - you can just imagine it on the stage in the West End. The feel good vibe continues with 'Your Love Lifts Me Up', this time with a male lead. There's some great brass in this one, adding to the party atmosphere. Contrastingly, 'Bring Us Hope Again' is a much more gentle song - a simple piano and subtle strings provide the backing track to this ballad, but the strong female vocals really carry the song along.
Fitting squarely in between the fast opening tracks, and slower previous song, 'For The One I Love' is much more middle of the road in speed, but with its excellent drum beat and good use of backing vocals it's another great addition. I instantly fell in love with the intro to 'Love Never Dies', the beautiful opening notes and emotional lyrics, gives way to a soaring chorus of hope.
'Flame' has a more gospel, African beats, feel to it, whereas 'Take It To The Cross' is very modern, girl-group, radio friendly pop. It's the kind of song Little Mix might sing.
There's a whopping 19 tracks on this album, and whilst this review doesn't have space to cover all of them - another notable song is the funky, jazzy, joyful 'Shout For Joy'. The music alone is worth listening to this track, but again the vocals are strong and clear, and there's a real swagger to it.
'Lord God Almighty' is part solemn prayer, part rousing modern worship song that would sound beautiful in most Sunday services. The brilliantly titled 'Copper Tree' is another beautiful little track, it's quiet and hushed, nothing fancy musically, but somehow it just reaches into your soul and grabs you. The Enya style backing sounds and delightful chorus make it something special.
The album finishes with two Christmas songs, 'Love Is The Heart Of Christmas Time' and 'Christmas Hope & Glory'. The first would comfortably fit on one of the many 'Best Christmas Songs Ever' compilations, it's catchy and fun, with it's modern style far from sounding like an old carol. The second Christmas track is another of this album's funky tracks - it's basically a modern, sped up, Christmas version of the Last Night of The Proms favourite, 'Land of Hope and Glory'. These two fabulous closing tracks are must-have additions to your Christmas playlist. And for those of you who like to join in - you're in luck because the final two tracks on the album are sing-a-long versions of those two songs.
There's great variety to be found on this album, but through it all are decent, well written songs, with wonderful music and some of the strongest singers you've ever heard. There is so much to get your teeth into, and it is thoroughly enjoyable throughout.
LTTM Rating 5 Out of 5 Stars Standout Tracks Christmas Hope & Glory
Love Never Dies
Bring Us Hope Again
Andrew Kisumba is Senior Pastor of Cedar Church, Birmingham. He is a man with a heart for his community and a love and talent of conveying and expressing God’s love through a merging of contemporary gospel and pop music which…
