Today, boys and girls, we're going to look into Charlie Peacock's newest release, "The Secret of Time." Can you say "The Secret of Time"? I knew you could. Now Charlie Peacock may be a familiar name to some of you, and others of you may have never ever heard the name, but he has published a number of albums of his own; he has produced albums for The Swoon, the Choir, Margaret Becker, 77's and others. He has also written or co-written songs for at least five more artists.
The album, "The Secret of Time," is brilliant. It's an encouraging album that brings hope to all areas of life. The music ministers to your spirit and the message challenges your intellect and faith. It's a wonderful collection of beautiful and charming songs.
Charlie Peacock is a brilliant musician but he is also an incredible man.
"I'm very much an artist and I think with an artist's mind. I think I was created to think in the context of musical ideas with words and images. I wanna refresh the hearts of saints. At the same time I don't want to speak a language that is foreign to the man on the street. I don't want to pretend that by my zealousness to see heaven, I've forgotten what it's like to have my feet planted on the ground," he said.
Peacock grew up wanting to be a novelist or a poet. He married at the age of 18 (he's still married to the same woman), and he began his career playing in bars. His life was plagued with alcoholism and his wife ended up kicking him out, but he overcame that and attended AA meetings up to four times a day. He now loves Jesus with all his heart and you can sense that in any of his songs. All he has gone through has given him a perspective on life that many people will never understand, but I think it helps his message because he can relate and he has been on both extremes.
Several musicians draw ideas and inspiration from other artists, but Peacock plays his own style of music. "I'm not usually inspired by music; I study writers a lot - R. C. Sproul, the Schaeffers, Charles Colson and A. W. Tozer. I believe the best thing I can do for my music is to study the realm of ideas of Christian thought."
Moving on to the musical side of the man and his tape, the music is perfect for any mood. The album paints a relaxing picture; the soft, pleasant vocals feel like pedals of a flower caressing your ears, and the perfect voice tone puts your worries to ease and makes your spirit free. The music is powerful; there is nothing to compare it to due to its creativity, but you can feel the joy and emotions pour out of every note. There is a somewhat pseudo-jazz undertone through parts of the album, but it's so wonderful that he can use a romantic saxophone or a lost flute line and blend it into contemporary music.
There are a couple of songs that stand out. One is "Dear Friend." Probably one of my all time favorite songs that contains beautiful music with a relative message. The song refers to Jesus coming back: "Dear friend, He is not slow in keeping His promises, as some understand slowness to be..." It's a comforting song but also a real song: "Are there any doubts to confess?"
"Dear Friend" is a graceful and lovely interlude with a pulsing beat and precise music. The last few times through the chorus you can hear the voices of children behind Peacock's, the most precious voices you can imagine. The sound of the children brings back the simplicity and ease of childhood — it's an incredible effect.
Another, "Drowning Man," is just as beautiful with an incredibly deep message, "You don't ask a drowning man if he wants to be saved..." Think about it.
Overall, the tape is excellent, full of charm and delight backed with passion and a powerful message. An enchanting and relaxing album for those days when you just need to slow down and appreciate life; definitely something we all need.
Other coverage for this album
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