Captured At College, Created For The World
Posted May 15, 2017
By CaitlinLassiter_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, North Central University has a true passion for worship. With daily campus chapel services featuring a full worship set led by student musicians leading original songs, recording some of these powerful moments seemed like the perfect idea. Under the leadership of the dean of the College of Fine Arts, Larry Bach, and former SonicFlood frontman Jeff Deyo (hear more about how he got involved here), the school began to produce live recordings every other year.
This year's recording, Always Remain, seeks to share the love of Christ outside the walls of NCU. Dean Bach sums up their mission easily: "God is doing something in our students on a continued basis in their response to God in worship. We want to capture that and have it be a blessing to churches and individuals."
"Open Our Eyes" begins the album by inviting listeners into an atmosphere of worship and a longing for the Spirit of God. Carrying a bit of a Hillsong Young & Free vibe, "Yours Is The Kingdom," "In Spirit And Truth" and closing track "Fortress" keep things upbeat for a while. A well-crafted moment that would fit well in any congregational worship service, "I Surrender" is a highlight on the album: "Here is my heart / here is my story / every breath is all for Your glory."
Pulling from the classic hymn "Just As I Am," "I Come To Jesus (Lay It All Down)" is another powerful piece that feels authentic and well-produced. "I can see eternity / it's in the way You love me," begins the beautifully written and praise-worthy "The Sweetest Name." The title track "Always Remain" combines the album's synth elements with the overall organic sound in a nice blend that makes for an engaging listen. Rounding out the twelve-track project, "Step By Step" and "Even Still" wrap up with lyrics of praise and adoration.
The Bottom Line: Live albums have a special quality that studio albums could never capture, with the added bonus of getting to hear the raw, in-the-moment emotion from both those leading and those in the crowd singing along. Always Remain features a diverse sonic landscape, blending an organic style and intimate times of worship with synth programming and upbeat moments. For a university that puts such focus on pursuing genuine worship, Always Remain is a huge step towards a bright future for North Central.
Song To Download Now:
"I Surrender" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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