SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEW: IT IS TIME- BARRY ROWLAND & DELIVERANCE
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEW:
IT IS TIME
BARRY ROWLAND & DELIVERANCE
PRODUCER: DANNY CRAWFORD
LABEL: HORIZON RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 14, 2017
MEMBERS: BARRY & TAMMY ROWLAND, MATTHEW BURGESS SONG LIST:
Delivered Again
He Can’t Follow Me Home
Hold Your Ground
The Ark
God Will Take Care Of It All
It Is Time
Redemption Draweth Nigh
How Long
Help Me Make It
There Rose A Lamb
THOUGHTS:
Barry Rowland & Deliverance are back again with another recording full of great Gospel songs. Barry and his wife Tammy are joined by new lead singer Matthew Burgess on his first project with the trio. Burgess adds fresh new dynamic to the group with his soulful and powerful voice. Rowland’s mother, award winning songwriter, Kyla Rowland wrote seven of the ten songs on exciting new CD. Gordon Jensen’s classic “Redemption Draweth Nigh,” Johnny Minick’s “How Long,” and Vonda Easley’s “Help Me Make It,” round out the song list. “Delivered Again,” features Burgess in his upper range. This easy listening ballad simply praises Christ for his faithfulness. “If tomorrow it seems I’m losing, I know I will win!” My God has delivered me and will do it again! Next, Tammy takes the lead on the bluegrass styled mid-tempo tune “He Can’t Follow Me Home.” This track featuring Tammy’s sweet alto reminds us that the Devil has been defeated and is not welcome in our Heavenly home. Burgess is featured again on the powerful anthem “Hold Your Ground,” which encourages listeners to stand your ground against the Devil for in Christ we are victorious! Claim the blood, stand on His Word and tell the enemy he will never take you down! This is one of my favorite tracks on this recording. The trio kicks it up a notch with the fun, up-tempo tune “The Ark,” which tells of the saving Grace of the Lord. This is the only fast moving song which is a slight shame as it was fantastic and left me wanting more up-tempo tracks. Next, Tammy shines on the beautiful ballad “God Will Take Care Of It All,” which simply proclaims that there is nothing that God can’t handle. He will take care of you for He knows your every need! The mid-tempo title track encourages listeners to spread the Gospel and fight the good fight! Take a stand for I Am! It is time! Tammy is featured once again on a different mid-tempo arrangement of the classic hymn “Redemption Draweth Nigh.” The trio also covers Johnny Minick’s standard “How Long,” a song of hope for joy will come in the morning! Tammy takes the lead on the deeply moving ballad “Help Me Make It,” which asks Christ for comfort and help through the struggles of life. Give me strength to face the day. You are always with me and my source of comfort! Matthew Burgess also shines on perhaps the most popular cover on this CD “There Rose A Lamb.” This incredible Rowland classic was made popular by Gold City and while that version may be more iconic, the trio does the song justice as well.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
THIS RECORD IS A BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF BIBLICAL SOUND SONGS OF HOPE AND LOVE. GREAT VOCAL PERFORMANCES AND QUALITY PRODCUTION VALUE. NEW LEAD/TENOR SINGER MATTHEW BURGESS IS A GREAT ADDITION TO THE GROUP PROVIDING A POWERFUL VOICE WITH IMPRESSIVE RANGE AND TONE. BURGESS SHINES ON THE CLASSIC “THERE ROSE A LAMB,” AND “THE ARK.”
4 OUT OF 5 STARS! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS GREAT GROUP, VISIT: www.barryrowland.com