Contemporary Christian music, especially worship music, tends to have the habit of borrowing musical clichés and rehashing old ideas, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the music isn't respectable. While the One EP by One Sonic Society isn't anything you've never heard before, the release boasts a very solid, developed sound. This comes as little surprise given famed CCM producer Jason Ingram and former Delirious? members Stu G and Jon Thatcher round out the band's lineup. Even so, the One EP offers a mature, cohesive sound that you might not expect form a debut release.
If you've ever been involved in contemporary style worship, the first thing you'll notice about "Our God Will Come" is that the intro sounds eerily similar to the main guitar riff in Tim Hughes' song "Happy Day". Fortunately, the intro blends into the rest of the songs and isn't much a focal point. Soft piano and subtle guitar work comprise the verses as the song wanders into a slightly more rocking chorus. The bridge borrows the intensity of the chorus and transitions into a guitar-focused instrumental that, in turn, leads into an ending chorus.
If you're a Hillsong fan like myself, you might notice that "Forever Reign" is the single from the next Hillsong Live album, A Beautiful Exchange. Jason Ingram of One Sonic Society co-wrote this song with Reuben Morgan of Hillsong, which is why you will see it on the One EP. There isn't much difference between this version and the Hillsong version of "Forever Reign" that is currently on radio, other than the Hillsong version sounding very "live", as opposed to the very produced, studio sound of the One Sonic Society version. This version also sports some super low bass frequencies that guitar/bass players and tone freaks (such as myself) will really dig.
"The Greatness Of Our God" features worshipful lyrics and a simple, sing-along melody. Musically, it's very similar to the first two songs. The next song, "Burn", starts at a very slow pace, but the heartfelt lyrics keep you in the moment: "Lord, write me into your great story. Lord, write me into your great song. Take all I have, it's for Your glory - one day all else will be gone." The song continues to build through a bridge proclaiming, "Your name be glorified!" The song starts goes through another intense chorus before fading into a drumbeat that ends the song.
The last song, "Meet With Me", starts at a slow pace like the song before it. The first half of the song is musically somber, while the lyrics convey a sincere, personal longing for God to meet with us. As the first half of the song spirals down into almost silence, the second half comes into being with ambient guitar tones swelling in. Then, with little warning, the song hits you with a MuteMath style barrage of bass and drum. Ambient vocals and guitar filter through the sonic attack as the song ends almost as abruptly as it began.
The One EP is a strong and impressive debut release from One Sonic Society that features lyrical integrity painted over a mellow, indie-rock style soundscape. I look forward to future releases from One Sonic Society with great anticipation.
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