Dwell

iTunes Review

On his sophomore U.S. album, Aaron Keyes combines a thorough grounding in Scripture with an eclectic, very contemporary musical approach. Dwell is noteworthy for the singer/songwriter’s fresh mixing of modern-rock and dance-pop sounds, as well as his unwillingness to water-down the Biblical content of his lyrics. Keyes keeps things interesting by varying his rhythms, veering from fluttering drum lines (“O My Soul”) to infectious shuffles (the title tune) and ecstatic techno grooves (“Lavish”). Tracks as disparate as the bubbly “Life Without My God” and the dramatic “Song of Moses” manage to reinforce each other rather than clash, thanks to Dwell’s appealing vibrato-tinged voice and the consistency of his lyric message. The content here is deeply reverent, humble in its praise and triumphant in its affirmations of faith. “Sinless Savior” and “Every Knee Will Bow Down” stand out for their hymn-like melodies, literate language and vivid imagery. Keyes brings a high degree of artistic finesse to Dwell while keeping his focus securely upon his God-centered themes.