Joseph Lamm's Standing In The Tower is a creative, immaculately produced album that at times evokes comparisons to Charlie Peacock, Dan Peek, and Jeff Johnson. Lamm has a youthful, earnest voice with which he delivers the lyrics of a Christian mystic: "Bathe within His stream/ Bathe within His being/ A different way to dream/ A different way of seeing/ Eternal garden walks/ Eternal meditation." (from "Essence") Allegorical and poetic images abound from both scripture and Lamm's own pen, focusing largely on seeking and finding fulfillment in God through meditation.
The music is diverse, displaying nearly the eclecticism of Johnson along with some jazzy, danceable rhythms and some 70's pop/art-rock sounds. "In A Watered Garden" is a beautiful, quiet reflection. Some of the more rocking cuts suffer from the almost too-clean production, robbing the guitars' sting and the arrangements' power. "See No Evil" and "Three Kings" are notable exceptions, conveying plenty of passion. The title cut is a lyrical oddity to most of the album, warning of one who would silence God's voice on Earth. Still, it is an appropriate title selection because it draws together the many creative musical elements in one song.
Standing In The Tower is a carefully crafted record that begs the hearer to really listen, and in doing so, listen to the voice of God.
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