Hillsongs

Item: Friends In High Places
Author: Darryl Stringer

Friends In High Places

Reviewed by Darryl Stringer

Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify

Label Hillsongs AustraliaThe LighthouseSeptember 1995

ccm gospel worship

The team at Hills Christian Life Centre in Sydney, Australia, have put together a truly awesome package of live worship music. In regard to songwriting and vocal production, Friends In High Places is flooded with professionalism and brilliance.

Hillsongs is well known around Australia for providing such popular worship songs as "The Power Of Your Love" and "Shout To The Lord." There are a small but growing number of Churches throughout the USA that use Hillsongs music regularly, as well. This album will certainly aid in the global expansion of Australian praise music.

The album opens with the powerful voice of Darlene Zschech, who sings several lines of the title track in her familiar black gospel tone. She is backed up by gentle piano. The calm she creates is interrupted by a punchy brass section, and "Friends In High Places" suddenly becomes a fast-moving soul number.

The second track is titled "He Shall Be Called". This is simply full-on praise to the Prince of Peace, with a groovin' guitar rhythm and a strong bass. The man who wrote this song, Russell Fragar, reportedly found the basic melody for the tune by translating to music the telephone tone he hears when dialing a friend's phone number!

The up-tempo feel is maintained for the pop-rock sound of "Praise His Holy Name". As the title indicates, this song expresses the strong desire to praise God for all the good things He's done. The album then moves on to "Rock Of The Ages," which has a fantastic bluesy feel. The brass section, piano, lead guitar, and the Hills CLC Choir combine to produce one very big sound.

From the power of blues, we move on to the pacific tones of piano and percussion on "Whenever I See." This song expresses a deep desire to come closer to God, and also to be comforted by Him. "Now Is The Time" is a declaration to offer all we have to God. As the singing builds to the chorus, it's difficult to stop yourself from joining in. The piano continues straight into another praise number, which simply states "You're All I Need."

The album reverts back to its funky soulful beginnings with "Salvation." The brass section once again crashes through, backed up by some fast work on the keyboard. The group even takes time out for a lead guitar solo! The R&B sound of "Holding On" shows up next.

The next track is a pop-rock tune titled "Because Of Your Love". With impressive vocals, and a dominating guitar, this song proclaims the changes in our life that occur because of the perfect love of Jesus Christ. Once again, it's the guitars and the brass that lead us into the next number, King Of Kings. This is another fast-moving tune with a lot of soul.

The listener is subsequently ushered into the tranquil sound of "Lord I Give Myself," which makes use of the piano and voice to confess a complete surrender to our mighty God. This is followed by a song that epitomizes praise music, and it is called "I'll Worship You." As it is sung in the song's second verse-"And living life as living truth/In all I am and hope to be I'll worship you."

"This Kingdom" is typical of the writing style of Geoff Bullock. The song begins softly with the piano and gentle vocals during the opening verse. The sound gradually builds through the following verses, and closes with a passionate final chorus. Just as "This Kingdom" states-the King, Jesus Christ, is and always will be glorified!

Friends In High Places closes with a fast track that's just a whole lot of fun to sing, "I Can't Wait." Sure, it's only got two chords in it (A7 and D9), but that doesn't matter.

This completely Australian album of praise and worship music will appeal to anyone who enjoys contemporary praise. With a broad range of musical styles, and a huge 15-track repertoire, you should be able to find a favorite in here somewhere.