Louder Than The Music

Keith & Kristyn Getty have always written songs soaked deep in theology and with great melodies. They have been writing timeless songs looking back to the days of Wesley and Newton but also looking forward to the future of the church for years. I have known the names and heard of them as artists but this is the first time I have listened to one of their records.

The album "Awaken The Dawn" has been in the making for over two years. With Keith & Kristyn trying to put over God's Grace in song. As their press release says "The album tells the great story of God's hope and freedom, Keith and Kristyn have produced another set of instant classics". A wonderful message but how does the album sound?

The album starts with "Hear, O Israel" and opens with an atmospheric haunting sound with Kristyn singing some beautiful lyrics with her rich powerful vocals. I was surprised by how much I liked this song and wonder where the quick 2 minutes seemed to go. "Come, People of The Risen King" moves more into a modern hymn rhythm that we have grown used to, yet with a proclaiming chorus of "Rejoice, Rejoice, Let every tongue Rejoice". To me this track sounds like a faster "In Christ Alone". The piano led "Creation Sings, The Father's Song" is up next, which is in the same vain as the previous track. Yet "Still, my Soul, Be Still" takes it down to a lower tempo acoustic worship track with atmospheric orchestral instruments adding to the powerful chorus "God,You are my God, and I will trust in you and not be shaken".

I'm honestly surprised how much I have enjoyed listening to this album, seriously I wasn't expecting to enjoy this album musically as I'm not into Celtic music or even hymn music, but this album adds all the traditional sounds of these genres and some modern sounds without making it sound cringe-worthy. As you know, lyrically hymns have a lot of old English words in which are very powerful in worship, explaining the power and holiness of God, and lyrically this album takes this style of songwriting and does a very good job at keeping to the routes but also adding a fresh way.

The album ends with "What Grace Is Mine", which is an amazingly powerful end to the album, the kind of song you expect at the end of a musical/theatre show that brings you close to tears (not that this has ever happened to me!). In summary, as said before, this album has surprised me, I was expecting "Awaken The Dawn" to be another album full of tracks trying to be like Hymns that were written hundred of years ago. This might not be an album to buy to add to your cool ratings, but this is the perfect album for anybody who loves Celtic music or modern Hymns.

Review By Jono Davies

LTTM Rating 4 out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
What Grace Is Mine
Creation Sings, The Father's Song
Compassion Hymn