The Bright Sadness - CD review

5th February 2009

Elvis Costello said that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. I’ve been wondering if this means that writing about worship music is like dancing about church buildings. If it does, I’m in big trouble; I can’t dance and I belong to Glenabbey.

The Bright Sadness contains some of the most authentic, honest and engaging worship you’re likely to come across. I have connected with it like no other worship album, yet I feel strangely reticent to explain or even think about why. Mr Costello, I take your point.

Until this album, Charlie Hall always struck me as a slightly peripheral character in the Passion movement, like Chris Tomlin’s quirky, bohemian cousin. Not David Crowder, the other one with the bigger, even dafter beard. And then you hear The Bright Sadness and you understand what Louie Giglio saw in him when he brought him onboard Passion before anyone else.

As the title suggests, it is a work of contrast and paradox. In musical terms, there are elements of pop, rock and folk, with a sprinkling of tasteful electronica. It’ll put you in mind of Athlete in their (sadly brief) heyday. Lyrically, Hall manages to be fresh and contemporary, but never self-conscious. He seems to be constantly searching for a worthy and original way to describe his love for God and will not settle for a clichéd way out. He does so with the frankness of a Psalmist, often singing from a perspective of sorrow and questioning, while recognising God‘s eternal consistency.

The Bright Sadness is a cohesive, flowing album which lends itself to being heard in its entirety. Musically eclectic it may be, but its relentless quest for intimacy with God is the inspirational constant.

Dave Currie