Various Artists
At the Foot of the Cross, Volume Two: Seven Last Words of Christ
(1995)
Reviewed by Beth Blinn
For the second installment in the At The Foot Of The Cross trilogy, producers Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty take a slightly more mainstream approach. While it still is not your run-of-the-mill praise and worship album, they have incorporated a more orchestrated sound, that should put it more in a position to get the radio airplay that it deserves.
Clouds, Rain, Fire, the first part of the trilogy, dwelt on the different aspects of God. Volume II, Seven Last Words of Christ, takes the last times that Christ spoke before his death and weaves them around and through different meditations that are both responsive and reflective in nature.
The album begins with an instrumental "Prelude," and then moves smoothly into "Forgive Us." Employing the vocal talents of Julie Miller, David Mullen, and Gene Eugene, the song is both a personal and corporate response to Christ's request for forgiveness for us. Bryan Duncan gives what I think is one of his most powerful performances ever on "Paradise." His voice has a slight ragged quality to it, that emphasizes the effort that it took for Christ to go through this ordeal.
The album continues on seamlessly moving from one stage to the next, with Tom Howard's orchestration being the common thread that weaves through the piece. A host of guest artists participate, including Charlie Peacock, Babbie Mason, Brent Bourgeois, Jeff Johnson, and others. Marty McCall turns in an especially effective performance on "Why Have You Forsaken Me," a song that vividly portrays the anguish and desolation that Christ felt as he lived out his last few hours on earth.
One of the most striking performances, however, is the brief refrain of "My Redeemer Lives," a song from the first album, that appears at the end of "The Wind." Sung by Mark Heard, who died not long after recording it, it is haunting, especially when you realize that he, probably more than any of us, really knows how true those words are.
Musically, the project retains the alternative edge of volume one, with the use of more ethnic instruments such as the accordion and bouzouki. Strings are employed to a greater effect, however, which should render the album more radio-friendly without compromising the integrity of the music.
If you enjoyed the first album, you will probably like this one. If you never had an opportunity to experience Clouds, Rain, Fire, you can still be blessed by one of the more creative and powerful pieces of worship music available. Seven Last Words Of Christ works both with and without its partner.
