Review

The newest offering from Worship Underground features excellent production and a true alternative vibe making 'LIFE' a welcome wave of refreshment in today's sea of 'youth worship' recordings that are mostly off the mark when it comes to singing songs for this generation.

Shambrook hails from Australia and has been recording mostly contemporary Christian music for the last eight or nine years. Now, as the College Pastor at the Vineyard in Newport Beach, California and as one of the main worship leaders with Promise Keepers events around the country, Peter finally finds the music he was born to write and sing-- worship.

Beginning with 'God Of Mine', 'You've Overcome' and 'Jesus I Come' the songs here keep getting progressively better and better. Even the modernization of such hymns as 'Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing' and 'Give Me Jesus' sound vibrant and relevant without being 'a rock and roll version of a hymn' that we so typically find in most attempts to update an old favorite.

What can't be stressed enough here is the exceptional production work of newcomer Eli Thomson who breathes a style and mystique into these songs that must be heard to be believed.

From the middle-eastern background vocals in 'You've Overcome' to the single note electric guitar of Shawn Tubbs in 'God Of Mine', this CD is constantly surprising the listener with simple touches of sonic brilliance and understated beauty.

Peter's lyrics are passionate and reverent, calling out to God for more of His presence and longing for more of His Holiness, as evidenced in the CD's first track, 'God of mine' where Peter sings, 'God of mine enter in/ Fill my heart with your Spirit/ God of mine in your faithful way/ You hold my head above the waters../ I feel Your touch/ I feel Your love/ I feel Your Holiness rest upon me'.

While this album is justifiably labeled a 'Gen X' recording, it isn't loud and noisy, nor is it dark and artsy. In fact, for the sake of comparison, it is not too far from the sound of recent recordings from 'The Well' or 'The Burn Service', although Peter Shambrook's vibe is much more of an intriguing sonic palette than the countrified rock of 'Burn Service' or the live energy of 'The Well'. Still, those who enjoy a younger sounding collection of songs on the bleeding edge of worship will want to be sure to give Peter Shambrook's 'LIFE' a serious listen.

Review: Keith Giles