Not Bad for a christian band
- Mark Kennedy, lead guitarist, Methomania, Bedworth, UK
Excellent - Lee Morgan,
Coventry, UK
Goldsmiths - Beautiful
The new single introduces us to Beautiful and also
re-introduces remixed versions of Sunshine and Big Fat
River and marks the continuing journey of Goldsmiths on
the Christian path of discovery.
Little can be said about Beautiful except that it
strengthens the already firm belief that these lads are
on the right track spiritually. God is beautiful. God is
all the things stated in the lyrics.
‘Beautiful’ is a powerful song but is
undermined by the fact that Big Fat River is still the
stronger composition.
Beautiful adopts the aura of the anthemic end-of-gig,
lighter waving sing-a-long popularised by the best of
Rock’s legendary writers and performers.
The new mixes of Sunshine and Big Fat River differ
enormously from their original versions, sporting an
almost ‘unplugged’ approach to the composition,
which in the case of Sunshine works well.
I keep expecting Big Fat River to ‘explode’ at
the chorus, rather in the mode of Radiohead at their best
but this unfortunately doesn’t happen and leaves a
flat taste to the overall feel of the track.
This said, the single lacks nothing in the message stakes
and should be taken for what it is - people in tune with
God. What better reason can there be for making music? -Patrick
mann
Deep Stuff, I'll buy two
- Daljit Auluk, Birmingham,UK
Goldsmiths get better every time I
hear them - Mike Rimmer, Broadcaster and
Journalist, UCB/Crossrhythms
Goldsmiths - Iknow youknow
On every Christian journey there are milestones
- rights of passage, if you like - and this album takes
us through the whole gamut of them. It makes you realise
that these guys have been there, seen that and worn the
T-shirt.
The album cover sports a line drawing of a
‘geezer’ in the pose of someone lost and
confused - you can almost see the thought, “Where do
I go from here?” Iknow youknow shows the way. Every
stage of the Christian journey is examined, catalogued
and held up for inspection in the most entertaining way,
from the first surge of acceptance to the realisation
that this amazing life you’re living was achieved
with His help and love.
There can’t have been many of us who haven’t
questioned where it all leads, who haven’t railed at
God and blamed Him for things that go wrong here. Hey God
epitomises the questions we ask at this stage of the
journey and much, if not all, of what is stated here
rings so true. The world of the twenty first century is
not as happy one. Drugs, robbery, violence are all
commonplace. We have the right to wonder whether God sees
this and is aware of our situation. Humankind is
manifestly incapable of seeing things from anything other
than the human perspective. How, then, can we expect to
understand God’s all-encompassing vision of our
future without much questioning and doubt along the way.
Hey God bravely asks those questions and puts the
listener in the place of one whose doubt has surfaced but
whose belief is, as yet, unshaken.
Not to worry - all will be well. The journey continues
undiminished by the trivialities of human doubt to the
full acceptance of a Saviour who is indomitable. Big Fat
River starts the album and defines the emotion we all
feel on first acceptance - but I would have suggested
including a second version at the end of the album - a
sort of Big Fat River (Slight Return) - because after all
the questions and doubts, the way you feel is that you
want to immerse yourself again in the invigorating waters
of acceptance. There is no need to be afraid of the
commitment - there is no need to be afraid of the journey
- Goldsmiths have been there - and I think they came out
okay.
Patrick Mann
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