STYLE: World RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 168002-26353 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
Steadfast Global are a Stornoway-based ministry which helps persecuted Christians throughout the world and they have released a charity album to help highlight the plight of such believers caught up in the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances. The blurb explains that all the material on the album was written anonymously in Northern Iraq in November 2016 with music being added on return to Scotland and, thanks to this pressurised writing environment, these songs tell of the stark reality of facing death on a daily basis on account of one's faith. Whilst it would be easy (and completely justified) for the writers to dwell on the aspects of despair and fear, there is instead an overriding sense of hope that - no matter what may come or happen - each believer in this situation is ultimately protected by the Lord. Musically, this is a makeshift and basic affair with voice, acoustic guitar and drums being the order of the day but this no frills and unpolished approach seems to fit in well with the subject matter. Surprisingly there seems to be no reflection of any indigenous music with each song being sung in a Scottish accent with instrumentation that is undeniably Western in origin and, given this release's title, it would be have been interesting to have had even just a few Iraqi sounds and rhythms in the mix. Regardless, this release will challenge listeners - particularly the poem "Do We Really Care?" - whilst educating them about the hardships and hope that their marginalised brothers and sisters in Christ are facing in the toughest of terrains.
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