Dana Key

Item: Part of the Mystery
Author: Robert Berman

Part of the Mystery

(1995)

Reviewed by Robert Berman

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Label Ardent RecordsThe LighthouseJuly 1995

acoustic rock blues rock rock

Dana Key has finally graduated-twice. First, Key recently completed a degree at Crichton College in Memphis, and he even lent his voice and his guitar to radio commercials advertising his new alma mater. Key's second graduation is into a solo music career. The demise of DeGarmo & Key, one of Christian Music's longest running collaborations, has freed Eddie DeGarmo to concentrate on his ForeFront record label; and has given Key a chance to pursue his solo career. On his second solo album, Key reinforces his D&K legacy, but unlocks the door to some new territory as well.

Acoustic guitars permeate Part Of The Mystery, from the first track to the last. Perhaps inspired by his recent work with labelmate Big Tent Revival (whose bassist lends a hand on this album), Key generates a strong acoustic vibe throughout. Former D&K members Tommy Cathey and Greg Morrow also assist. In fact, the album doesn't seem too far off from being an acoustic D&K album, leading me to wonder how much "D" there really was in that band after all. If you liked any old D&K recordings, there's probably something here to remind you of that material. "Rain On," with its soul/gospel trappings, could have been lifted from Communication, and "Daniel" adds a Police-like verse to a *Streetlight*ish tune.

Key hasn't abandoned his bluesy, electric leanings. "Daniel" and especially "By Divine Design" sport the confident solo riffs that Key too often keeps hidden inside. Longtime fans looking for a true blues album still won't be gratified in this recording, but at least Key shows that he's still got the goods. The spirit of this album is definitely bound up in the acoustic guitar, as exemplified in the closing track, "Mary," a jubilant, but stark, song with unaccompanied guitar in the vein of Indigo Girls' Amy Ray or Melissa Etheridge.

Lyrically, Key combines favorite past themes with new thoughts. No less than three songs deal with Christians humbly carrying out God's plan without earthly acclaim, a subject trod on Streetlight by "Holy Hustle." "Liar, Lunatic Or Lord" puts rhyme and rhythm to C.S. Lewis' classic trilemma concerning Christ's identity. And "Mary," an Easter song, would have fit seamlessly on Key's previous solo album. But he also stretches for less obvious topics, waxing philosophical on man's limits in the title track, and finding a reasonable context to mention Nine Inch Nails and Elvis in the same breath in "Daniel" (where he goes on to rhyme "Lexus" and "Texas"). "Dear Mr. Clapton" was written specifically in response to that guitarist's song "Tears in Heaven," continuing a welcome trend of Christian musicians establishing a musical dialogue with their secular counterparts. "By Divine Design" gives us yet another apologetic for Creationism, but its catchy chorus and wonderful solo rank this song high among the many songs written on this busy topic.

Key makes no astonishing changes in his style with this album. It's more like a summary of where he's been musically for the last twenty years. In merging an acoustic feel with the staples of his past musical diet, Part Of The Mystery does us a service by showing another part of Mr. Key.