in review
REVIEWS OF THE NEWEST MUSIC FOR CHRISTIANS
worship radar
Mark Roach
Myrrh Records
New artists are common commodities on the scene of Christian music. The welcome
influx is like the promise of new life on a maple tree in spring. Mark Roach is one
such budding artist, except he stands out in one important point. “My calling as
a songwriter and worship leader is ultimately to be a resource to the Church…,” says
Roach. In a time when the typical musical hopefuls have one eye always searching for the
mainstream crossover, Roach keeps a steady gaze toward worshiping communities, which
makes him a unique leaf on the massive musical tree.
As an independent artist, his songs, mainly written for his church in St. Louis, found
their way onto a couple of Song DISCovery volumes as well as other worship compilations like Purpose Driven’s SongSeeker project. Now with Myrrh Records, a major label also
focused on worship music, Roach brings his guitar-driven pop-rock and wonderful sense
of melodic hook to his debut release with Myrrh, Every Reason Why. With the help of veteran
producer Nathan Nockels (once part of Watermark and producer of such well-know worship acts as Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman and the Passion projects) he has created an album
to do just that. Filled with songs to bless congregations and an accessible, yet high-quality, musical approach, worship leaders should quickly find this record; in doing so, they
will have a solid musical collection that will immediately add volume to their songs for a
service of worship. Roach is truly a resource to the Church.
If you need evidence of the impact
T im Hughes is having on the Church
t oday, you don”t have to go any further
t han the CCLI chart the past two years.
C urrently, and solidly, placed at the
n umber one spot is “Here I Am to
Worship.” Hughes has a certain ability to
r ealize the grandeur of the unmatchable
G od then bring that truth into intimate
m usic that feels as real as our own skin.
I t is an encounter, and that encounter is
r ampant on Holding Nothing Back. Though
his songs are full of burnished guitar
riffs and thematic elements that take his
music beyond simple pop-rock, his boast
is his songwriting chops. Congregational
songs, at that.
For an Easter song that will celebrate
the resurrection and send your worshiping community out into the world with
the power of redemption, any day of
the year, “Happy Day” is as bright as a
spotlight in a dessert night. Then with a
piano drive, “Everything” stands out as
a congregational tune that builds on its
slow tempo until the explosive bridge
crying for God to “be my everything.”
Other highlights include the British tune
with an American vibe, “Clinging to the
Cross” and the pensive “God of Justice,”
which is worship in an exhortation to
step forward in faith with compassion.
Passion is the foundation on which Hold
Nothing Back was built; Hughes’ words
soar with songs that slow down enough
to bring tension, then release in statements of faith that drive us to worship.
HOLDING
NOTHING
BACK
Tim Hughes
S parrow/EMI CMG
Jeremy Armstrong
www.markroach.com
WL TAKEAWAY: This is a must-have for worship
professionals. Most of the songs will empower
your service of worship and the rest will inspire
your life.
W W W. TIMHUGHESMUSIC.COM
