22nd
August, 2007
JUSTIN MICHAEL
Album: Holding Nothing Back
Artist: Tim Hughes
Year: 2007
Label: Soul Survivor
Enhanced: Yes – bonus DVD with song writing thoughts, interview and video diaries.
In a word: Uncomplicated
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"Sonically, this is pretty straight-up modern rock album. The simplicity, though, suits the lyrical pictures." |
Tim Hughes, yep, the bloke that penned a little ditty called Here I Am To Worship, just got a new kick in his step. Happy Day is the track that boots this record to life. It’s a happy-rock tune that just makes you want to pop your iPod in your ears and go for a run around the block in time with the drum beat. Of course, you may also like to grab your guitar or piano and thump the tune out yourself. After all, the chords are in the liner notes!
In an era when congregational songs are becoming more hymn-like in their word count, Hughes seems to cut back and continually offers simple statements such as in Be My Everything where these words are the entire chorus and the refrain is simply, “Christ in me, the hope of Glory”. Or Holding Nothing Back, a co-write with Delirious’ Martin Smith, where the pre-chorus states “Nothing's gonna hold me back” four times.
Sonically, this is pretty straight-up modern rock album. The simplicity, though, suits the lyrical pictures. Thoughts like “you can take the world but I’d still have You” from Take The World and “Simply to the cross I cling, letting go of all earthly things” from the duet with Kiwi Brooke Fraser, Clinging To The Cross.
There is a slightly more youth-oriented edge to Hughes’ music compared with contemporaries like Matt Redman, Paul Baloche or Chris Tomlin. It’s epic at times, but much more straight rock than Redman or Delirious. These tunes will connect with the youth culture that has arrived in church life; a culture that is all about seeing justice done through being Christ in their communities ( just think of the Make Poverty History campaign). I think Hughes is very much immersed in this and it’s reflected in songs such as God Of Justice and Living For Your Glory.
There are 11 new songs here that, while touching on similar themes to many other writers, still have a unique sound and lyrical depth.
So, enjoy your jog around the block and make sure you keep in time with the music: hold nothing back!
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