Authentic Vertical Worship Posted June 03, 2024 By DwayneLacy_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What You Need to Know Geoffrey Golden gained major buzz ten years ago when he took Gospel music by storm as a fiery twenty-year-old phenom who won BET's Sunday Best. He went on to release, Kingdom...Live on Kirk Franklin's Fo Yo' Soul Recordings/RCA Inspiration. This album, produced by Myron Butler, was well received. If you know anything about Geoffrey, you know that he is also a preaching machine. However, in everything he does--singing, preaching, or teaching--he wants people to "see Jesus as King and own their unique place in His Kingdom." In 2024, the now husband and father is still preaching, hosting a podcast, and just released his new album Night Vision, a titled based on Daniel 7. A family affair, Geoffery's brothers Kevin and Reginald Golden directed the record.
What It Sounds Like This album blends choruses, exhortations, declarations, and full-length songs into a cohesive spiritual experience. It begins with an opening prayer by Pastor LaBryant Friend, setting a reverent tone before Geoffrey leads his singers in the powerful call and response of "Be Glorified." The chants of "Be Lifted/Be Lifted/Be Glorified.../Jesus" create an electrifying atmosphere as Geoffrey adlibs and directs.
"Call to Worship" is a medley of beloved choruses, featuring "We Give You All the Glory" from "Alpha and Omega" and "King of Kings." Within this medley, Gwen Henderson passionately leads "He is Lord," and Elizabeth Komba Odom elevates the worship with her rendition of "Be all glory and honor, dominion and power/Forever and ever, amen." By the time they get into the chorus of "Revelation 19:1," my eyes started blinking fast, holding back tears.
I like the way Geoffrey ends the album with two upbeat songs. The chorus of "In Jesus Name" (co-written by and made popular by Darlene Zschech and Israel Houghton) gets another funky reworking. It leads into the equally funky "God in This Place." The band is locked in with some stellar guitar work by Stello Clark and nice chops by drummer C.J. Watkins. Geoffrey goes in passionately adlibbing, "Tell me who/Who can stand/Against the Man/The Man of War?"
Best Song On The Record Singer/guitarist, Jabari Johnson joins in on the folksy "YHWH" to sing, "You're the giver of each good and perfect thing/Our creator, God, yes You are Elohim/You gifted each of us purpose and destiny, Yahweh." The song stays light and midtempo with the exception of the bridge. I love to see artists take risks and go outside of their musical norm. The fact that the first half of "Refuge (Psalms 91)" is a bit country mixed with soul and they also using one of my favorite passages of scripture, I was sold. It gets even better with Maranda Curtis dueting with Geoffrey. On the vamp, each of them trade off masterfully adlibbing without ever over doing it.
Final Word Geoffrey is only 30 years old, but his music is wise beyond his years. Night Vision is an album that truly honors the Lord and leads people to seek Him in worship. I was left feeling satisfied and blessed after listening to it.
