Performs the Rare Trifecta in Worship Music| Posted February 10, 2016
Worship music is dominating 2016 so far, continuing a massive trend of people listening to more vertically focused choruses than ever before. Lots of individual churches are writing their own music and cutting records. The problem, though, is that these worship groups are typically stuck in their own myopia--getting influenced by one another and sticking to some same general formulas.
Enter Fellowship Creative. Since their 2014 introduction to the world, Running to Follow, they've quickly shown that they're not fitting into the mold of traditional worship music. They went a little more rootsy with last year's Alive In You EP, and now they're back and better than ever with the church's strongest worship record in quite a while, Eclipsed.
The band lives up to their last name by executing the most difficult trifecta in church music: writing thoughtful/poetic/unexpected lyrics, interesting musical arrangements and songs with congregational accessibility. It's a feat rarely achieved, and Fellowship Creative does this all over the album--in fast songs, slow ones and midtempo ballads.
Toeing the line between electronically driven pop and guitar-propelled rock worship, Eclipsed takes the best of all worlds for a nearly perfect modern worship album that pushes the movement forward.
There are a LOT of highlights on this project, including the folktronica lead single, "Grace On Top of Grace", the rallying cry of "Moment", the boom claps of "Jesus Our Hope", the chilled out vibes of "Stars" and "Holding Onto You", the 1990s-sounding sax solo on "Never Giving Up", the atmospheric tenderness of "No Escape" and the funky beats of youth-friendly "Caution to the Wind."
In a standout album, there are two songs that definitely stand out. The hymn-like "Lead Me" is a beautiful, stripped down ballad beseeching God to do what the song title says. And "Jesus Is Alive," although the most formulaic of the bunch, has the heart and gravitas to be the Easter theme of 2016.
The bottom line:Here's hoping that the church at large wakes up to Fellowship Creative and embraces its music as the new gold standard in worship music. Say goodbye to formulas and cliches, and hello to authentic, artistic expression to the Lord.
Song to Download Now:
"Lead Me" (Get it on iTunes here.)
to add lyrics if not listed.
