Salvation

Pure Delight

     

As a boy I hated having to go to church. The uncomfortable formal clothes, the hard seats, having to sit still, be quiet and pay attention for hour after hour (it seemed) as the preacher droned on seemed to me cruel punishment. I couldn’t wait to get out. Most Contemporary Christian music strikes me the same way. My point is that, as a rule, I am not a fan of the genre.
I’m happy to report that Deborah Wargnier’s debut album Salvation is not at all like that. It is a pure (in every sense) delight.
I’m not saying that she doesn’t deliver a message here, just that she doesn’t feel the need to club you over the head with it. Deborah is blessed with a rich and full voice, which she uses in a warm, friendly, unpretentious style. She delivers some compelling lyrics too, personal and honest, that sound straight from her heart. The overall feeling is that of having a conversation with an old friend. No need to put on a show, just tell me what you feel.
I was impressed with the variety of musical styles here. None of them, thankfully, are what I would consider “church music”. Deborah kicks off with Signs of Creation in an R&B mood, complete with punctuation from the horn section. You’ll also find Latin flavorings, toe tapping Country sounds, even a track that sounds like the Allman Brothers sat in. There’s ‘60s jam band rock complete with reverb guitar and organ, up tempo folk with some excellent flat picked guitar, and a dramatic and lovely In Your Presence backed by woodwinds and strings – nice!
It’s hard to pick just one favorite, but I’m drawn to the bright and happy Just Let Go, which starts with Dobro and the acoustic guitar and drums come in to join the party. The lyric reminds me of a favorite quote: “If you put your troubles in God’s hands, don’t take them back.” I think if Deborah Wargnier had been around, church would have been my favorite place.