Beating Time
TITLE: GUARANTEED
ARTISTS: Phatfish
WEBSITE: http://www.phatfish.net
PRICE: £15.00
FORMAT: CD (10 tracks, 40 minutes)
STYLE: various
Yes, I know it must seem like I'm always banging on about Phatfish, but I really must encourage you to give this album some serious attention. I’ve been listening to Guaranteed for four weeks, yet it still sounds fresh. Maybe that’s down to the quality of the compositions, arrangements, performances and production?
There’s certainly plenty of variety and quality. Some tracks have that full-on Phatfish edginess (though perhaps not quite as in-your-face as the Heavenbound album). Others are smoother and more contemplative (rather like Lou’s solo album Treasure). Their rediscovery of groove is likely to get your feet tapping, and it’s so good to hear former band member Alan Rose back on electric guitar for this CD. A couple of tracks are rather reminiscent of The Police, and a string quartet adds a touch of class to the whole project, even a hint of Eleanor Rigby in places.
But I’m a lot more excited by the 1,500+ words of realistic, biblical, Trinitarian teaching and of joyful, reverent, thankful praise in response. Here are just a few lines from ‘Amazing God’:
Looking in the sky whoever could deny your glory?
Gazing into space how small the human race appears
Seeing you in all your majesty I wonder how it could be
That you delight in me.
You light up the heavens with just one word
You measure the mountains in your hand
Yet you treasure the broken and make them whole
You crown us with your love.
Lord, you are an amazing God
And I love you.
‘This Year’ looks at the current state of the world and asks, So what is there to stand on, who can turn this night into day? What is there to lean on, can anybody drive our fears away? This is met with a confident, forward-looking reply: Yes there is one like a Son of Man / Coming with the clouds of heaven / He sits on the throne as a lamb that was slain / He rules with power and authority.
All ten new songs are full of Scripture and application, such as these lines from the call to spiritual warfare, ‘Rise Up’.
Yes, it’s time to suit up, boot up, root up
The sin that sometimes gets us so entangled
For there is a plan for God’s creation
Jesus dying on the cross for our salvation.
Let’s not be unaware, our fight is not just mortal,
But there is one who seeks to conquer and devour us
But we can stand up strong
Clothed with God’s holy armour
As we resist, that scheming liar will just run, run, run.
So, if you’ve never bought a Phatfish album before, start here! And if you haven’t made plans for Cheltenham Bible Festival, why not get evening tickets for the Phatfish concert on Friday August 10 (see http://www.biblefestival.com for details).
