Here is my last (as of October 2001) review this year of local recording artists from Columbia, South Carolina. Hannah Traylor and Elizabeth Foster have been known as Hannah and Elizabeth for the last four years, and they've packed coffee houses for fans of their music ministry. With good reason.
Hannah and Elizabeth "grew up" together at First Presbyterian Church in the capital city of South Carolina and have performed alongside local favorites Silers Bald and Brooke Campbell and, as of this writing, will open for Mitch McVicker in Columbia in November. While their music is full of praises to Jesus Christ and is from the heart, they pack their venues because their debut project is superb, better than any "home-grown" recording I've heard. Hannah and Elizabeth is top-notch with support from members of Silers Bald and Torchlight. The results are apparent from Hannah and Elizabeth in concert as well as on this recording, as they were smart to enlist the talents of producer Randall Griffith in Nashville rather than staying at home in Columbia to put finishing touches on this project. For this finishing touch, Hannah and Elizabeth actually surpasses the first national release for Silers Bald, which is a tall order! The duo's excellent recording clearly translates to what they're doing in concert.
According to the ladies' biography, Hannah and Elizabeth have merged their talents over the past years, and this debut project is incredible. Hannah Traylor may seem like the backbone of the duo as the principal composer and guitarist, but she's quick to say God's word, namely Psalm 27 is the duo's backbone. Check out "Land of the Living," based on that Psalm.
"The Lord, he is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? ... for I am sure, I'm confident, We'll see His goodness in the land of the living." This piece is Hannah and Elizabeth's signature song. Enjoy!
Foster is composer of "Above the Clouds," which is a psalm in itself that God is in control.
There I go to God, there's just no other way.
And Lord, show me how; lift me above the clouds.
In Your arms where I find rest and peace.
Hannah and Elizabeth's final piece is "The Blessing," which they sing at the end of each concert. Lyrics written by Hannah's father Harry pull at the listener's heart-strings. It's what Hannah's father sang to his own children:
"May the God of Abraham bless you richly. With the love of Jesus, the zeal of Paul; the wisdom of Solomon; May God, the Holy Spirit, Fill you with the truth of the Spirit... My child, may God bless you." Beautiful.
I've been a very tough critic for national as well as local recordings, and the more I listen to Hannah and Elizabeth, the more I like it. Hannah and Elizabeth have released a flawless recording but still have room for improvement with their recordings. How? My initial thought for a teaser for this review for The Phantom Tollbooth was "'Kum Ba Ya' meets the 21st Century," and in many ways, this duo takes me back to my first youth group worship experience, and I have no doubt Hannah and Elizabeth will surprise me -- and their many listeners and fellow worshippers -- with an even higher level of worship for many recordings to come. Stay tuned!
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