When I first got this project, I anxiously popped it in, kicked back and waited to be blasted out of my chair. At first I was disappointed as the project never quite reached the pace I expected. So, without the preconceived notions, I listened again, and discovered the power and depth of the latest by Barry Blaze and company. Instead of working hard to pack energy through the pace of the tunes, they pack the energy into the feel of the funky grooves. Part of the change can probably be attributed to working with a producer for the first time--Tedd T.
Arms Around the World starts with the dancy pop groove of "Sticks & Stones." The chorus is extremely catchy, stating "One thing I've learned/Is sticks & stones can break my bones/But nothing in this world can take me from you." It is obviously sung to Jesus, as it states "You loved Judas/You were betrayed with a kiss/When I'm hurting/You're there for me at times like this."
Next is the classic "Pleasant Valley Sunday," written by Carole King and Garry Goffin, which offers a solid medium-paced groove. Blaze demonstrates some vocal flexibility as he next sings the deep verses of "Well Done," with a big vocal chorus stating that despite how "The maze seems never-ending, every crossroad took dead endings/I'm a boy with a man's worries, just trying to carry on" and that he hopes to hear: "Well done thou good and faithful servant/Well done the race I finally over."
"Voice of Reason" continues in a medium-paced, groove-based, drum-loop laden pop direction, stating "Now that I've been forgiven/The cynics babble but I just listen/To the voice of reason in my soul." The pace quickens as "Take Control" moves into a more dance-based pop--no doubt a contribution of co-writer Ian Eskelin. The verses tell of desperate searches that led to pain and despair, while the chorus is a simple and heartfelt commitment to Him who helped set his life back on the level, "Take control/Take control/Take control of my life."
Fans of "Satellite Babies" should appreciate "Hurricane." It is fairly slow, subtly angst-ridden, and, for Code of Ethics, surprisingly dark. It is filled with harsh electric guitars and labored vocals telling of an empty person committing a murder.
"Paradise" then moves the project into a lighter, more upbeat feel--yet still leaving a bridge of rough labored vocals. It is a reminder that even though there is "Peace and joy/Death and sin/We choose the world/We're living In/You're living in paradise/Every moment's precious here/You're living in paradise/Heaven's all around you." This is also one of the few sample-laden tracks.
Quickly taking a step back towards "Hurricane," "Just a Man" is a slower rougher tune reminding people that we should not place artists on a pedestal or throw the first stone at them if they stumble. Another cover tune is next, a mid-tempo synthesizer-based, grooving rendition of Larry Norman's "Nothing Really Changes."
In a fashion similar to "Well Done"--only brighter--Blaze sings the verses of the slower, downscaled title track while receiving an almost choral backup on the chorus: "He's still got His arms around the world/Holding us together with His love/He's still got His arms around the world." The good-feeling "Arms Around the World" then leads into "Garden for Two." It closes the project with a slower, almost pop, ballad which is the only song that is lyrically vague. Knowing that Blaze is preparing to get married, that probably shines light onto lines like: "Forever before heaven/We'll plant a garden here for two/Forever before heaven/I'll build a life in Eden with you."
In addition to smooth and lush backing vocals, another major strength over Code of Ethics is the lyrics. While remaining rather poetic in delivery, they aren't as deep, obscure, or allegorical as in their last effort. Part of this may be due to the number of contributed songs. In addition to the covers, the title track came from another set of pens: Eddie DeGarmo and Bob Farrell. The balance were co-written by Blaze with Michael Anderson, James Booth, Gerald Joseph, Dale Bray, and Tedd T.
If you are expecting more music like Code of Ethics, you are bound to be disappointed. However, if you are interested in something a little slower and more groove-based, then you are in for a treat.
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