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Leonard E. Smith is best known for bringing two things into the world: the consistently popular, bright praise chorus "Our God Reigns," and the underground cult sensation Danielson Famile. "Our God Reigns," of course, is sung worldwide in charismatic and conservative worship services alike (even the Pope loves it), and Danielson Famile is that group of Muppet-voiced siblings whose latest record on Secretly Canadian, Fetch the Compass Kids, is pushing the definition of "alternative music" even further.

Surprisingly enough, given these credentials, Deep Calls to Deep is Smith’s first record. It’s marketed as a praise and worship album, but those expecting the glossed-over saccharine common to that genre will be disappointed, as it definitely falls into the lo-fi aesthetic to which Smith’s children are so accustomed. At the same time, although Smith’s famous "famile" backs him up on several tracks, listeners wanting to hear more of the helium weirdness that makes Danielson so endearing are advised to look elsewhere.

Instead, Deep Calls to Deep is in the vein of the best ‘70s singer/songwriters, from Randy Stonehill to Cat Stevens. Smith is backed with mostly acoustic instruments – sometimes with his guitar alone, sometimes with banjo, mandolin and piano. While his voice is off-key at times, it’s never unattractively so, and it adds to the warm, personal sound of the album. Ironically, the album’s only weak point is "Our God Reigns," on which Smith’s offspring become distracting with their characteristic falsetto. Other than that, Deep Calls to Deep is a fine choice for those who are tired of the praise and worship movement, but not tired of praise and worship.

Michial Farmer (7/26/01) 

3 ½ tocks