Aloha from Oahu
Posted September 19, 2014
By ChristopherThiessen_NRT, Staff Reviewer
It is becoming an increasingly popular trend for megachurches to have their worship teams write original worship songs and record albums. One church that has followed this trend is New Hope Christian Fellowship based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Last year, their worship team New Hope Oahu shared their music with the world and their first album Hope is Alive gained some success on Billboard. With their second release, Victorious, New Hope Oahu continues to worship God with their talent and invite listeners into a time of worship.
Now don't let the name fool you: just because they are based in Hawaii doesn't mean that this album is full of ukuleles and island rhythms. In fact, their modern worship sound is very similar to that of Planetshakers or Jesus Culture.
On Victorious, New Hope Oahu moves away from the live congregational setting of their first album to a polished studio album. Pulsating synths and infectious house beats drive the kickoff track "We Live," which features Satellites & Sirens frontman Geoff Hunker. "Raise Your Voice" is another danceable anthem reminiscent of Phil Wickham's "This Is Amazing Grace." Other highlight tracks include the vertical "Faithful You Are" and "Perfect Peace," which are accented by excellent vocal riffs as they proclaim the goodness of God.
The greatest moment of this album by far is the last four minutes or so. "None Like You" (featuring Kale Chang) has incredible instances of traditional Hawaiian background vocals that really make the track stand out. The song is then ended with a beautifully unique moment of Boyz II Men-esque vocals in their native language that really makes me wish similar things had been integrated throughout the album. It is a truly special moment.
Closing Thoughts:
With so many worship acts crowding the market, a polished sound and powerful vocal performances are not enough to make Victorious a standout album. With that being said, there are definitely worshipful moments on the record and God is definitely praised by this group and their music. Fans of Hillsong, Planetshakers, and the like will find this album enjoyable and a worshipful experience. I truly hope that New Hope Oahu will continue to explore more distinctive sounds like they did on "None Like You" and integrate their Hawaiian roots (even if it's ever so slightly) into their music.
Song to Download Now:
"None Like You" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By ChristopherThiessen_NRT | View ChristopherThiessen_NRT's Profile
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