Reviewed by Philip Laing

The worship leaders and musicians brought together by the British arm of the Vineyard movement have made some fine albums in the past and this, a mixture of re-recorded songs and new material, is one of their best. What Vineyard has done is turn some of their material over to David Plumb, a producer and remixer best known for his work when he was a member of the popular rap team 29th Chapter. Unlike some attempts to recast pop rock worship songs to appeal to club culture, this works pretty well. The first song is the title track which starts with a soft acoustic guitar sound before becoming a synth anthem which soars to incredible heights. Following on is "Living In The Light" which features a lovely female lead vocal and well-arranged electronic instruments which drive the entire track along. "No Longer Strangers" changes the dance vibe slightly by using a more trap style along with a piano-led instrumentation. It features excellent vocal delivery and worshipful lyrics reminding us that we are "no longer strangers to your arms/By your grace you have saved us." A more melodic synth sound is heard on "My Heart Is Free" which is very much a radio-friendly pop and dance infused track. This song builds towards a strong instrumental bridge before being stripped back again to an ambient synth sound. 'Open' is a very good pop and electronic influenced record which suggests many new possibilities for where modern worship might head in the future.

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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