Matt Redman "Where Angels Fear To Tread"

Title: Where Angels Fear To Tread
Category: Praise & Worship
Artist/Group: Matt Redman
Rating: 5 / 5

Amazing Blessed Be Your Name Befriended When My Heart Runs Dry Making Melody Call To Worship Rejoice With Trembling The Promise Of Your Cross Wonderful Maker Lord, Let Your Glory Fall Where Angels Fear To Tread

I had the privilege of reviewing Matt Redman’s newest CD, Where the Angels Fear to Tread. This collection of songs is again classic Matt Redman! (very catchy and sophisticated music composition along with truly Spirit filled and theologically sound lyrics).

He begins the CD with a song about grace, called "Amazing". The second song is one of my current favorites, "Blessed be Your Name". (The 12pm service should all know this song now by heart since the praise team has been singing it almost every week!) Like many of his songs, the lyrics are deep and profound. He references the book of Job for this song. You give and take away, My heart will choose to say, Blessed be Your name. Though I’ve sung this song many times, in my heart it is one of those songs that is difficult to sing honestly. Does my heart truly worship God even when He takes away? "When My Heart Runs Dry" describes in a personal way how at a time when he was spiritually dry, he looked back to remember "...the height from which [his] fragile heart has slipped..." and even that was enough to feed him. Once again, there is a song with the word 'Cross" in the title, "The Promise of Your Cross". He really does deeply understand the meaning of salvation through the sacrifice shown in the cross. It not only shows in the lyrics but also in the accompanied music. In this song, it is the music that seems to convey how seriously, deeply and strongly he holds onto the cross.

I honestly can say that I like every song on this CD. Each song is very unique, rich with profound meanings and can be considered a ‘worship song’. This CD again uses many psychedelic guitar and keyboard processed sounds with natural acoustic and heavily distorted electric guitars that are layered and blended very well especially with his unique voice. I think his singing is much like Bruce Springsteen’s in that his voice in itself is not very good in quality but it has character and something about it exudes honesty and sincerity. I’m usually very critical when it comes to Christian music. In many cases, the lyrics are not inspiring or deep enough for me to appreciate or the music seems unoriginal or even unprofessionally recorded but Matt Redman’s songs seem to have it all. Yet these songs are simple enough for us to use for our church worship times. If you’ve been blessed by and enjoyed his past CD’s, this one is a must to have! Hint: look for the hidden track at the end. Pretty cool! I like the guitar part!

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