Spring Harvest Live Worship '98
Artist: Various Artists
Label: ICC Records
Time: 13/60.51
It has become a tradition in the UK for the major Christian conferences
such as Spring Harvest, New Wine, Soul Survivor et al. to release live
worship albums on at least an annual basis. For the most part, these releases
are lack-lustre recordings which contain a few good songs but suffer from
an already over populated market. In a market where seemingly every event
must have a 'live' album and possibly a couple of tie-in albums it is easy
to become disenchanted.
To these ears this album is a step up from last year's Spring Harvest
live worship albums, perhaps because it is now only a single album after
several double releases, allowing the producers to be more selective in
their choice of tracks. Featuring Dave Bilbrough, Chris Bowater, Geraldine
Latty, Don Moen, Dave Pope, and Wellspring it provides a good cross section
of the adult-oriented worship leader scene backed by some talented session
musicians.
Having seen Dave Bilbrough lead worship at Spring Harvest this year, I was glad to find that his enthusiasm and the rootsy arrangements have transferred pretty well here. His husky vocals make him the strongest contributor here, and his songs seem to have the most energy.
Despite that, this collection is still pretty predictable and while
it will probably appeal to the worship music afficionado, or someone who
wants to see what songs are available aside from Matt Redman, Noel Richards,
and delirious?, but most listeners will step by this one.
By James Stewart
