Louder Than The Music

What is it with Christian compilation albums? There seems to be a market full of compilation albums at the moment showcasing a bunch of new christian songs. The amazing benefit of these compilation albums is you can experience the music of a band you might not want to gamble your hard earned cash on buying their latest release. Over the years this way I have been able to experience many great bands for the first time.

So onto this new release from Discover Worship called New Songs, this fourteen track album has sourced songs from new emerging songwriters Ben Jones, John Mongan, Stuart Barbour and Luke Finch, taking songs from studio recordings and also live recordings and put them together onto this compilation.

To be fair to this album, when it call it's self New Songs, it really is a collection of New songs. I might be sounding really naive, but there is only a small handful of songs on this album I already knew and I have had the privilege to listen to a lot of albums this year. Hearing new worship songs really excites me, it's great to see a new fresh breath of worship songs to get your teeth into.

Second track Your Cross Is Still Speaking Today is a very creative and fantastic song. It really is something different to some of the acoustic rock worship songs being released at the moment. The song is written by Ben Jones and Nick Herbert and the only way I can explain it is that it sounds like it was written by the rock band Radiohead during their Ok Computer and The Bends sessions. Lyrically, as well as musically, it's a great song "We draw near in the promise of grace, Draw near with our hearts full of praise, Lord to worship You", honest worshipful words overlaid with interesting music producing a standout song.

Some of you who read all of our LTTM reviews will know I have a fondness for the song It's Your Love, I wrote about this it during my review of the compilation of the same name. Written by the talented Luke Finch, forgive me for saying it again, but this is a great song by a stunning vocalist and songwriter.

The interesting and creative songs continue throughout the album, from the powerful Stand To Sing, to the mid rock Passion by John Mongan, these song ooze inspirational worship. There is a sort of indie edge to these songs, not happy just to include soft, clean acoustic rock music, there is even an edgy sound to the vocals and music.

Fancy some new songs that aren't from Hillsong, Bethel, Passion or Soul Survivor? Then New Songs might be worth having a listen to. These songs are heartfelt cries of praise to God, written with real honesty. A compilation with strong moments throughout.

Review by Jono Davies

LTTM Rating 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
Your Cross Is Still Speaking Today
It's Your Love
Stand To Sing