Blessed is the latest live worship release from Hillsong Music Australia, recorded live at the fantastic Sydney Entertainment Centre. It is a huge venue and shows how much of an impact the church is making that it can not only fill it, but also have people spilling out onto the streets.
The album features a wide range of song writers, with Rueben Morgan featured most frequently, and contains eleven new songs along with three favourites from the previous United Live release, King of Majesty. The theme of the album comes through throughout particularly in the title track "Blessed" a nine-minute long praise anthem and in Miriam Webster's "Made me glad". One of the best tracks is "Shout of the King" penned by Ned Davies, Worship Pastor from the Hillsong City Worship Centre, it is vibrant and infectious and is bound to be a huge success in churches everywhere, I am surprised that this song was not used as the title track, as it is certainly a high point on the CD. "Now that Your near" is Marty Sampson's first offering on the album and it is another real stand out track with a fast, lively rhythm. The chorus line tells of the impact that Christ makes on our lives with "Now that Your near, everything is different, everything's so different Lord, I know I'm not the same, my life You've changed, I want to be with You, I want to be with You!" Marty also co-wrote "Son of God" with Vertical Music favourite Lincoln Brewster, the song features a memorable guitar hook that keeps the song going with some fantastic guitar work from the Hillsong team. The musical depth of the album is highlighted on the final track "All the heavens" which truly is an extravagant end to the album. It is a beautifully written song, with the chorus of "All the heavens shout Your praise, Beautiful is our God, The universe will sing, Hallelujah to You our King!" The song really conveys the spirit of praise, which the church is so committed to, although for me personally I would have hoped that the album would have ended with a faster more upbeat song. Among the other new songs on the album is "All I Do", first heard in Hillsongs London Church, co-written by Natasha Bedingfield, sister of British pop sensation Daniel Bedingfield. The song is a joyful upbeat declaration of praise; the song starts with a neat brass-led introduction and with its fast-tempo throughout is sure to be a success with the youth!
In conclusion this is one of the most extravagant releases from Hillsong Australia, which once again shows itself to be light years ahead of all of the years other worship releases. |
