One 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 and acceptance within their school programs. These guys are the true missionaries of the 21st century.
Heatseeker is less commercial than the group's previous releases, as dance music has evolved so has the Tribe's sound. On this album they bring in styles that range from breakbeat, techno, club rap, trip hop, house/hip-hop, and R&B. Cameron Dante has his writing hand in 5 of the 10 songs, and it is clear that he has been the force behind a new transformation in musical style.
The CD starts off with "Messiah," a track built around breakbeats, and a repeated chorus of "Break the chain, Make the change..... That comes with Jesus."
Lyrically the World Wide Message Tribe has always been an 'in your face about God' band that had nice happy lyrics. This too has changed on this release, with in your face lyrics about being a hypocrite and a song that deals with the times we disgrace ourselves with our sins and God's grace is there. They are singing about the life we face everyday, a less than perfect world seen through the eyes of a sinner, loved by God.
The tracks "Messiah" and "Hypocrite" have a Prodigy, Chemical Brothers sound to them, while Precious Angel takes a Bob Dylan song and turns it into a club-house hit. The female vocals have a deeper and more defined sound to them with the addition of Doronda D. Lewis. She brings more of an American black Gospel sound that works great with the house tunes and the Diva sounds.
The only problem I can find with this album is the length of the songs, most are around 4 minutes. This doesn't work well on the dance floor, although it is great for radio. The total time for the CD is 34:00 minutes, (10 songs) which is very short--I hope someone grabs some of these songs and does extensive remixes on them. They are songs that deserve to be remixed.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse Unsorted 1999Reviewed by Stacey Lee FeldmanWorld 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…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 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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