Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI) has been producing live worship albums annually since the 1970s. Classic worship songs such as "As the Deer," "I Worship You, Almighty God," and "Surrender" were first recorded at CFNI. In recent years, CFNI has upgraded its facilities and recording processes to improve quality, using some overdubs and studio cleanup to polish the sound. With more than thirty-seven recordings and hundreds of songs, CFNI is an institution in the praise and worship genre. Here is a roundup of the three most recent worship albums from CFNI.
There is no growth without experimentation when it comes to music, and worship music is no exception. On We Lavish Our Love, Christ For The Nations Institute (CFNI) breaks away from tradition, though not radically. Using drum loops and more studio pre- and post-production, Lavish comes out with a slicker, more youthful sound. It is more akin to Sonicflood or an unplugged Delirious? sound than its prior releases, which were closer to Integrity's Hosanna! and Vineyard Worship sounds.
"We're Here To Worship" opens the disc with a funky drum loop, joined by acoustic chucka-chucka rhythms and leader Keith Hulen at the fore. There is a Darrell Evans influence throughout the project, tainted with a leaning toward Teen Mania's Acquire The Fire albums, down to the hyped-up crowd and rock-n-roll feel. But there is plenty of substance to chew on, and it is not a cotton candy disc.
Co-Producer Raymond Boyd, an alumnus and the main drummer for the past few albums, contributed the pre-production tracks which were accompanied by the full band and choir in addition to the main feature that CFNI is known for: the live student body joined in worship. The whole album has a youth-oriented style, from the simply memorized choruses to the fiery orange and green colors on the CD cover.
Musical styles on Lavish are more aggressive than in the past, borrowing from Los Lobos' "La Bamba" on "I Love The Lord" and backed by perky, complex rhythms on "Totally." It is a drum-driven album with less of the live crowd and free worship that usually characterize CFNI worship albums.
Veteran worship leader and CFNI alumnus Roger Hodges again joins the band as guitarist and songwriter, contributing "You Are," one of the best tracks on the CD. The whole project is a step in a new direction for CFNI, and launches its traditional style of worship into the new millennium.
3.5 tocks
Similar sounding releases
1998Greg LongJesus Saves
2000Phillips, Craig & DeanRestoration
1994Randy StonehillLazarus Heart
1995Wes KingCommon Creed
1999Clay CrosseI Surrender All
1998Two or MoreWalking on the Water
