I've always enjoyed Out of Eden's excellent harmonies and production values, and this sister act has been anything but conventional. The only ingredient that's close to conventional about the trio is that it has always exercised uniquely magnificent harmonies. To follow up This is Your Life and Love, Peace and Happiness, on the cutting edge of pop music and rhythm and blues, Out of Eden presents Hymns.
First things first, here's what Hymns is not. Out of Eden has not jumped on a praise and worship and/or hymns band wagon. This project is not the Passion worship band's Hymns: Ancient and Modern it's not a worship participation project, it's not a performance, and it's not comprised of standard hymns--there are contemporary songs and originals here! Well, then, what is it? A reason I mention Passion is because there are fine readings of "Fairest Lord Jesus" and "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" on both projects. The recordings do invite the listener to sing. And yes, Out of Eden's harmonies are perhaps the best I've heard them.
Lisa Kimmey steps out as producer on this project, and I suspected I'd hear a good, sturdy, steady reading of hymns under her direction. And I really listened to see if there would be elements of "Soldier" or "Different Now" infused into the Hymns mix. Not quite, but there are some similar stylistic ingredients here, and the most prevalent sound seems to be from the "More Than You Know" era. I like it, as it really fits "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise," "I Know Whom I Have Believed," and "Vision of Love" (an original). Their interpretation of "Fairest Lord Jesus" (aka "Beautiful Savior") is simply the finest contemporary version of this hymn I've ever heard, and I hope Gotee releases it as a single. The introductions to "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" (with a rollicking orchestral arrangement) and "Better is One Day" (with a solo electric guitar that, at first, seems out of place) are quite unique. Kimmey does a fine job producing this project.
Hymns is not only for the Out of Eden fan, but there are indeed a couple of hymns that groups could sing with, including "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" (guest vocals are supplied by Tree63) and "Better is One Day." If listeners have ever sung along with Out of Eden, they'll definitely sing along here.
My sole yearning for Hymns is that I want Out of Eden to continue growing, to fully incorporate the This is Your Life and Love, Peace and Happiness progression the sisters have so carefully crafted for many years. No, they don't have to put loud horns behind "A Mighty Fortress," but I really want Out of Eden to surprise me with something that sounds like it's new, different and truly top-notch--outstanding. It's my hope that Out of Eden will make at least one more hymns project in which every single hymn has the same vitality, energy and excellence as the strongest renditions of hymns on this project. Hymns is an incredibly enjoyable recording, one that fans of Out of Eden and hymnology will enjoy.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Sarah VernoHaving grown up in a very traditional church, the word "hymns" brings to mind a choir of gray-haired men and women singing songs that all generally sound the same to me. Therefore, when I received Out of Eden's new CD, Hymns, I was skeptical, to say the least. However, the group has totally blown me away. Never before have I imagined hymns to sound this good! Out of Eden has always experimented…Similar sounding releases
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