World Wide Message Tribe has outdone themselves, turning in a massive spirit-filled and energy-driven project that is truly deserving of the name, Heatseeker.
It wouldn't be fair to classify this as a straight dance project, although the Tribe is known as a dance group. There are a lot of rapped vocals and heavy guitars stirred in, which adds smacks of techno, industrial, and club. Fans of the Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, The Echoing Green, or any other cutting-edge dance act should love this album, too. Overall, Heatseeker is a lot more aggressive than much the Tribe's past work, though they have often hinted at this wild sound. If you took all the past World Wide Message Tribe projects, threw them in a blender, tossed in a heavy dose of cayenne pepper, maybe then you'd come close to the fire that is Heatseeker. Not only is this new album bold, loud, and spiritually strong, it has the top quality musicianship and production one should expect as well.
From the thrilling chants on "Messiah" to the screaming guitars and thudding beats of "Hypocrite" to the ever-present, sweet, soaring vocals of Elaine Hanley and Deronda Lewis, World Wide Message Tribe has created a powerful project that should have wide appeal. "Everything I Need," with its '70s vibe and the remake of Bob Dylan's "Precious Angel" both boast fabulous vocals. Upping the intensity, "Heatseeker" and "Messiah" come screaming at you with something close to industrial force, while "Lift It" gets the blood pumping and jumping in classic Tribe style. Longtime producer Zarc Porter and original Tribe members Andy "Heavyfoot" Hawthorne and Mark Pennells try many new things and explode any old-fashioned ideas about dance music. Though Heavyfoot doesn't go out on stage anymore, his gritty, gravely raps can still be found on this album, augmented by new screamer Cameron Dante, and the straight-ahead rapping of Tim Owen. "Hypocrite" is a favorite cut of mine, its guitars are blistering, the pace aggressive, and the vicious hook line cannot be ignored. Truly, this is World Wide Message Tribe in extraordinary form.
Thematically, the lyrics on Heatseeker are what you would expect from World Wide Message Tribe: strong declarations of faith and truth with a twist of cleverness. For example, who else could pen the line, "Prayer strikes the ground like a rhino charging..." ("Make A Change"). Few songs can take such a simple concept as listing the names of God and turn it into glimpse into glory - but "Messiah" does just that, sending shivers down my spine. This project's unifying theme is that of making one's personal walk with the Son a vibrant, powerful, exciting thing. The band encourages believers to be "heat-seekers," by praying and facing life and sin with boldness. Since the Tribe frequently ministers to the schools in Manchester, England, these songs are written to encourage and disciple those young minds. However, unlike a lot of youth-oriented music, these lyrics never talk down. Anyone should be strengthened by the stands the Tribe takes.
Ever since I received the UK version of Heatseeker for Christmas '97, I have been pumping this CD out of every loud stereo system I can find. The recently released, U.S. version adds "Lift It," a very cool party song, and two ten-minute-long remixes, which are not only fabulous, but boost the length of the CD (which otherwise goes by too fast). In fact, Heatseeker's only drawback is that the songs are too short. I want more!
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Shari LloydLet's dance! Finally, the wait is over. Warner Resound is releasing Heatseeker to the US market. If you aren't familiar with World Wide Message Tribe, they formed to minister to Manchester (England) school kids but their popular dance music has made them a hit with audiences across Europe and America winning them a Dove Award last year for We Don't Get What We Deserve. This album finds them on…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Darryl CottierOne look at the new World Wide Message Tribe CD and you know that something is different... From the graphics of the CD, to a new line-up and even new haircuts (see inside the CD sleeve). The Tribe have redesigned themselves and come away with a great album and the music has been brought up to date with the ever-changing dance rhythms of the club scene. The WWMT exist only to help supply income…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by James StewartThe Tribe has come a long way from the days of Take a Long Hike, and their profile has gradually increased to where they are now one of the four biggest-selling UK Christian acts. This album has been given mainstream distribution to reflect their growing popularity. Despite all this, the group is still focused on their work in Manchester schools, and the album is aimed directly at the kids they…Similar sounding releases
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