Stuart Townend - Creation Sings

Published Tuesday 23rd June 2009
Stuart Townend - Creation Sings
Stuart Townend - Creation Sings

STYLE: Roots/Acoustic
RATING 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 79929-15482
LABEL: Kingsway Music KMCD2979
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 2
EXTRAS: bonus DVD
RELEASE DATE: 2009-05-05
RRP: £1.99

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

For my money by far the best Stuart Townend album was 1997's 'Say The Word' set when he integrated English folk instrumentation and rhythms to his tuneful worship songs. So it was with pleasure I noted that the singer/songwriter has returned to the folky orientation and with Stuart playing bouzouki and banjo as well as his better known piano and guitar and with some fine accompanying musicians including Julian Ferraretto on violin and Julian Nicholas on whistles made an album of worship songs that sounds fresh and original. But possibly even more important than the welcome folk flavourings of the music is the fact that there are five new-to-the-public songs and surely the hymn opener "Come, People Of The Risen King" and "The Light Of The World", the latter a beautiful duet with Cathy Burton, will join the 14 (yes, 14!) Townend compositions currently in the CCLi chart indicating the most sung worship songs in Britain's churches. Clever old Kingsway have also persuaded Stuart to re-record three of his favourite oldies, "Beautiful Saviour", "You Are My Anchor" and "O Church Arise" previously heard in live versions but now given deft new arrangements by co-producers Paul Burton and Mark Edwards. Possibly the finest track of all on this hugely impressive collection is the new song penned with Keith Getty, "Gethsemane" featuring an exquisite interplay between Stuart's piano and a string section playing Mark Edward's haunting arrangement. Add to that some of the best lyrics Townend has ever written ("To know each friend will fall away/And Heaven's voice be still/For Hell to have its vengeful day/Upon Golgotha's Hill/No words describe the Saviour's plight/To be by God forsaken/Till wrath and love are satisfied/And every sin is stilled") and you have a breathtaking performance. If all this wasn't enough, the package also comes with a DVD containing footage of five of the songs performed live in the studio along with interviews and the story behind the songs. A classic folk-worship album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Product Description
This is Stuart Townend’s seventh solo album.

A studio recording with a strong acoustic sound, drawing on the melodic traditions of English, Scottish and Irish folk and combining them with classical, country and gospel influences to create a distinctive worship sound that will appeal to a broad market. Also features duet with Cathy Burton on ‘The Light Of The World’.

The sound is varied, new and fresh but Stuart’s commitment to sing-able melodies and lyrics of poetic and theological substance remains evident throughout. As we have now come to expect from the world’s leading worship writer, Stuart delivers a fresh outpouring of great new worship songs, songs that will undoubtedly prove an invaluable resource for churches of all streams and denominations for years to come.

DVD Songs:
The Light Of The World
Compassion Hymn
Come People Of The Risen King
Speak O Lord
Creation Sings

Reader Comments

Posted by Jenny in Rugby @ 16:02 on Aug 23 2009

Love it!!
Fortunate to be at the Keswick Convention where Stuart led worship and used a lot of the songs off this CD. Lovely 'Folk' flavour.



The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.

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