Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

American Messianic duo Meha Shamayim consists of Roman Wood and veteran producer Leonardo Bella and their debut release is nothing short of stunning. Mercifully free from the element of cliché that so often plagues Messianic releases, 'From The Heavens' shows two musicians not afraid to take Hebrew music in a new, daring and dynamic direction. First up is the slow burner "Glorify" which sets the scene, not only in terms of exalting Yeshua, but of musical and melodic experimentation that sees dulcimers, harmonicas, mandolas and the like utilized in the way the Beach Boys and Belle And Sebastian have done in the past. Whilst this album pushes forward in contemporary ways, there is a healthy balance of traditional elements in tracks such as "No Not I" and "Shabbat's Coming" and there is a consistent marrying of English and Hebrew lyrics throughout. Each song is notably different from the other and this makes for attention grabbing and diverse listening with every track being a highlight. For instance, the country pop of "Sweet Child Of Mine" sits well with the indigenous folk of "The Lord's Prayer (Avinu)" whilst surprises such as the gentle "Two Thousand Years" morphing into a subtle reggae halfway through and the delightfully surreal "The Seed" will have you discovering new sounds after the umpteenth play. Thanks to Meha Shamayim's willingness to think outside the box and Bella's expert production, 'From The Heavens' is a joy to listen to.

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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