Promising, Poised Debut
Posted September 30, 2013
By Dawno,
Marthe De La Torre hails from Auli, a village in Norway of about 3,000 people. A gifted pianist and composer, Marthe first came to America in 2002, where she spent ten months in Los Angeles training in performing arts ministry. A few years later, love would bring her back, for during her first visit she had fallen in love with her future husband. Today, Marthe leads worship at The House Los Angeles.
Marthe funded her debut project on Kickstarter, titling it Preludes because, in her own words, "our most sincere worship... is a mere reflection of what it will be like when we one day stand in front of God's throne. Our words... are a foreshadowing of what lies ahead, they are ‘Preludes' of things to come."
It is evident from the start that rather than conforming to any worship music formula or trend, this record forges its own path. Marthe combines organic and electronic elements to create her own sound: a lively and fresh mixture of EDM, Worship, Pop, R&B, and Urban.
First up, Marthe taps Butta P of Rhema Soul for the danceable, beat-heavy "Trust in You." Butta P's rap underscores the song's central message of resting in God and trusting in His providence no matter the circumstance.
Urban-flavored "Only You Are Holy" pronounces God as supreme and sovereign, while "Never Let Me Go" trusts that He never abandons: "Even though I know I'll fall / You will see me through it all."
As she declares love and fidelity to Jesus on hook-laden "Your Love Is Crazy," the song's pulsing, throbbing heartbeat supplies a vitality that renders Marthe's passion irresistibly contagious.
On "Glorious," Marthe gets creative with electronic sounds that perfectly convey awe, wonder, and power, while for "Hallelujah"she uses a mellower expression and a more straight ahead R&B/Gospel sound.
Edward Rivera lends his able voice on "Greatest Sacrifice," joining Marthe as the two sing praises to Jesus: "You made a way for us to be with You." At over seven minutes long, the track sets and maintains an atmosphere conducive to corporate worship with enough breathing room for personal moments of prayer and reflection.
The gorgeous "Amen" brings the worship toward a close. Beginning very simply and gently, Marthe sings a tenderly repeated "amen" over a piano melody before introducing electronic elements around the one minute mark. She then transitions into The Lord's Prayer, setting off the verses with her amen refrain. As it nears the end, the song takes a grander turn with horns and percussion seemingly announcing the presence of the King before turning quiet again, as if on bended knee in supplication.
Just when you think you have a feel for Marthe's sound, she throws a breathtaking curve with "Lær Meg Å Kjenne." This gorgeous traditional Norwegian song may be familiar to some as it has been recorded by the popular soprano, Sissel. The song was composed by a fisherman who, upon returning home, discovered that a fire had claimed his possessions and taken his loved ones. Marthe turns in a stunning performance as she sings a beautiful lyric that translates as: "Teach me to know your ways / and to walk them trustingly step by step / I know that what I own / are borrowed goods, and everything is yours / But if your strong hand guides me / I will never see the wrong goal / and for every hope that dies down here / I will receive a greater hope in heaven." (Translation found on Sissel's website, http://www.sissel.cc/laermeg.html)
Closing Thoughts:
In Preludes, Marthe offers up her own brand of worship. With its creative approach, strong set of songs, and uniquely current sound, this compelling debut reveals Marthe De La Torre as an artist gifted with a talent for composition and an earnest heart for Jesus. Though Preludes is just the tip of the iceberg that is her promising future, there is much to be enjoyed here. You'd be remiss not to have a listen.
Song to Download Now:
"Only You Are Holy" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By Dawno | View Dawno's Profile
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