Review

After two years of silence, Delirious returns with one of their most satisfying records ever. As most of their long-time fans have come to appreciate, Delirious is not a band to be pigeon-holed. In fact, while most bands in America were scrambling to do their impression of the Gen-X Worship sound, the boys who practically invented the movement were doing all they could to break out of the mold and write songs about life, and love and, yes, even God, but not exclusively.

Its the bands defiant pursuit of their own identity and voice that has maintained their popularity and established their longevity at the same time. They turn a deaf ear to the reviewers who complain that theyre not writing more worship songs and avoid the crowds who would like nothing more than to posterize them alongside the likes of U2 or DC Talk. They are more than a worship band. They are more than a rock band. Even though they wear both of those hats at various times, and sometimes they were both at the same time, Delirious appears to enjoy making their fans guess about what theyll do or sound like next.

Like most of their recent recordings, there are songs of worship on World Service, (I Was Blind, Mountains High) and songs of celebration (Grace Like A River, Feel It Coming On), as well as songs that mingle worship and rock all together (Rain Down, Majesty). This is probably one of the bands most well-produced Cds to date. Not as over-produced as Mezzamorphis and not as understated as Cutting Edge, but as they say in the fairy tales, the production is just right.

Songs like Majesty and Rain Down will no doubt be the first to find their way into the Sunday Morning set list, but I Was Blind is also one great worship song that might be overlooked at first, but contains some very profound and simple words of confession. As Martin sings, I love your ways, they are beautiful, so beautiful to me/ I love your mystery/ How you trust me yet you know me/ Your kindness, it brings me to my knees/ Your kindness, it leads me to say sorry/ Let it shine on me, let it shine on us/ Would you shine on us? youre reminded that this is the same band that wrote such worship songs as I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever and Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?

The release of World Service is a welcome return to form for Delirious, and fans of their music will have more than enough great songs here to keep them happy for a long time.

Review by Keith Giles