Review

Let me start off by being completely honest with you -- I am probably not be the most qualified person to review this CD.

First of all, I haven't heard either of the first 2 volumes in this series from Ancient Paths, Come To the Waters and Rivers of Living Water (though after spending some time with this disc and reading the reviews found elsewhere on this website, I'd like to), so I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first listened to Still Waters. Secondly, all of my previous instrumental worship album experience left me feeling rather cold to both the genre and the approach usually taken in executing it; that is, typically boring, Muzak-style versions of hymns or CCM hits. I'm sure there are some CD's out there that defy my very biased and generalized categorization; I just haven't heard any of them.

Which is why Still Waters came as such a wonderful and unique surprise to me. While I'm sure someone who is typically a fan of instrumental worship music would love and appreciate this disc as well, the fact that it didn't follow the usual conventions really spoke to me, and it enabled the music to minister to me in a way that none of those other CD's ever have. The artistry of the music, the combination of the instruments used and the tones and textures they created allowed me to sit back, relax, and worship the Lord without distraction. As these new and original songs, and not simply instrumental versions of existing songs, I found freedom in appreciating the music on its own merits, without unintentionally focusing on a vocal melody or a set of lyrics that would be missing (or even worse, mimicked by an instrument) from a particular song. Additionally, the simple, one-word song titles merely suggest a direction that the music might take you, but they don't dictate it.

At times the music is elegant and soothing, particularly the opening and closing tracks "Selah" and "Stillness", where gentle keyboards, woodwinds and horns create a pattern of repeated melody that sets a very relaxing mood right from the opening few notes. But the rest of the songs are often quite a bit more somber (the violin and horn interplay of "Silence"), enigmatic ("Search") and cinematic ("Solitude" and "Surrender"), combining elements of Middle Eastern-esque melodies, post-rock and ambient-electronic film scores. These tracks in particular were much more interesting to me, as they took on a much deeper and more meaningful purpose: genuinely reflecting the heart's longing in pursuit of God.

The liner notes make a point of stating that "whether you use it as an aid to prayer and meditation, or simply play it in the background while you work in your home or office, Still Waters will create a retreat for the spirit and refreshment for the soul." While that is certainly true, I can guarantee you that a thorough, reflective listen will be the more rewarding one.

Highly recommended to existing fans of instrumental worship and the other 2 CD's in the Ancient Paths series, as well as to anyone who, like me, hasn't been particularly moved by other instrumental worship albums. Personally, I found quite a bit more here than I was expecting.

Review by Marc Dooley