The Call is an innovative project from various worship leaders, including Danny Daniels, John and Marie Barnett, Keith Rosenhagan, and Casey Corum. However, the glue to make The Call a consistent blend of varying styles is sorely missing. The overall outcome is akin to throwing the series Touching the Father's Heart, Surrender, Winds of Worship, and The Burn Service in a blender and mixing 'em up.
Here's an illustration. Put Danny Daniels' "We Will Run" and Marie Barnett's "Breathe" together in the same worship setting, and that's the gist of The Call. From this project, Daniels' "There is None Like You," with a straight-ahead rock and roll tempo, meshes poorly with the tedious, highly intense worship pace of "Oh My Strength." It's a rough mix in such close proximity.
The most interesting reading from The Call is definitely a bluesy treatment of the spiritual, "No More My Lord," reminiscent of the Kiln House or Bare Trees/Fleetwood Mac [1972] era of Fleetwood Mac (when the group was moving away from blues towards rock), with guitars sounding like Danny Kirwan or Bob Welch.
Sweet standout songs include "Teach Me Your Ways," "Sweet Perfume" (written by John Wimber), the title track (by Daniels, with Celtic overtones), and "Sing Hosanna." The listener who enjoys the mild rock texture of "We Will Run" from It's All About Jesus, will love Daniels' inclusions here.
The songs' lyrics that comprise The Call are all rock-solid, but worship leaders often count on at least one standout; this collection delivers it. "I Remember You" is one of the finest musical renditions of The Lord's Supper that I have heard. With simple accompaniment, this piece is worth the price of admission and would fit perfectly with any service of Holy Communion, traditional or contemporary.
As Vineyard has recently posted contents of its projects dutifully, worship leaders can go online to sample songs from The Call, and the site also has chord charts, overheads, and information from the worship leaders. The project itself is an enhanced CD and includes all of these elements, as well.
The Call is indeed an interesting project, but I would have liked to have seen it more polished, with tracks shuffled around, and a song or two omitted and perhaps an addition. As it stands, shake the oil and vinegar well to ensure that's how you like your salad.
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