The Rising

iTunes Review

Charlie Hall’s role in the Passion movement secured his place in Christian- music history a decade ago. As a solo artist, he’s often approached worship music with a slightly melancholy air. By contrast, The Rising keeps its focus more exclusively upon spiritual joy and triumphant faith. Hall has managed to stay au courant by blending techno-dance elements into his music, yet remains an acoustic-based singer/songwriter at heart. The insistent flow propelling “Ransom” is typical of his ability to wrap a sanctified message in day-glo sonic colors. The oscillating shimmer of “Let the Earth Awake” and the panting gallop of “Make Me Alive” likewise offer modern pop pleasure without compromising their timeless messages. Short, folk-oriented pieces like “Lamp” and more expansive numbers like “Sleep And Dreams” find Hall trying a variety of approaches, and the title track catches him at his most heroic. What’s consistent is his theme of human brokenness, expressed from the viewpoint of a fallible but grateful believer. “Yesterday Is Gone” is an especially moving account of one soul’s redemption.