Michael Card

Item: Poiema
Author: Paul Race

Poiema

(1994)

Reviewed by Paul Race

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Label Sparrow RecordsThe LighthouseApril 1995

acoustic ccm celtic folk

Michael Card adopts "poiema," the Greek word for "works" to describe how we, as individuals, are the various "works" of the Lord. The overall emphasis of the album is the way God helps each life to grow and develop according to His plan for us.

As usual, Card's lyrics are complex, laden with metaphor, and poetic. What is relatively new is the Celtic tonality of several of the songs. The first song, "The Poem of Your Life" sets the stage by incorporating a "world" percussion track with fiddle, Uillean pipes, bodhran, and a very Celtic-sounding men's chorus. It's no surprise to find that certain parts of the album were recorded in Dublin. With the addition of a hammered dulcimer, this album would sound a lot like a second outing of Rich Mullins' Ragamuffin Band. It is only on songs like "The Basin and the Towel," which are closer to Card's traditional sound, that we notice the absence of cellist John Catchings. Card maintains other ties to his past, though.

"Things We Leave Behind" is especially notable because it was co-written with Scott Roley and Phil Madeira, two other CCM veterans. A version appears on Roley's album Brother to Brother.

Other songs worthy of note include "The Greening of Belfast," a prayer for peace in Northern Ireland, and "For F.F.B," a tribute to Card's evangelist grandfather.

Card continues to provide sparkling acoustic guitar performances, along with work on mandola, mandolin, and Celtic harp (like the one in the picture on the cover). His voice continues to be precise, clear, and mellow. Phil Naish's production and keyboards are excellent throughout. The one track that Brown Bannister produced, "Bearers of the Light," uses synthesizers to imitate the Celtic instrumentation of the rest of the album, so it fits into the whole project better than one might expect.

Overall, this is another musically intricate, lyrically inspired, and impressively produced album by Card. Of course, he makes it look so easy that non-fans might be asking "what's new?" Well, though this is still a "concept" album, Card has not restricted the subject matter of his songs as much as he has in the past (when, for instance, he focused on stages in Jesus' life, or certain books of scripture). And those who appreciate Celtic music will find certain tracks delightful.

Card fans will not be disappointed, and fans of acoustic, folk, and Celtic music may find this an impressive introduction to Card's music.