Bethel Music – The Loft Sessions (Review)

Bethel Music/Kingsway

Released: January 24, 2012

Bethel Live – The Loft Sessions  Amazonmp3 /  iTunes  (Deluxe) 

Bethel Music, the home of Jesus Culture, Jeremy Riddle, Kim Walker, William Matthews, Jake Hamilton, Brian & Jenn Johnson and others are back with a new album called The Loft Sessions. Taking a cue from Hillsong’s 2010 Chapel album they slow the pace down and bring a more contemplative set to their typical upbeat offerings.

I figured this was going to be a stripped down set of new takes on old Bethel favorites. To my surprise, not that many songs are repeats. One Thing Remains was previously on Jesus Culture’s 2010 Come Away album & Bethel’s Be Lifted High as well as Jeremy Riddle’s 2011 Furious album. If those three versions and singing it in church every other week weren’t enough for you, this album may really help! You’ll also hear new takes on Fall Afresh & Walk In The Promise (both also on previously mentioned Furious album).

Aside from One Thing Remains, I probably enjoyed Riddle’s Walk in the Promise & You Know Me (featuring Stephanie Frizzell) the most.

As you probably expect, The Loft Sessions consist of strings, orchestration, and acoustic melodies. It’s a more subdued worship experience than they typically put out. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, just not as pumped up/going for it. One small thing I noticed, a lot of Bethel’s songs are the 7, 8, or 9 minute variety. The longest cut on this album is five minutes and some change. I love it when big churches that are jammed with talent put the music that integral to their church out their for the Church as a whole.

This isn’t cliche church music. The lyrics are meaningful and not trite. If you’re a Jesus Culture/Bethel fan, you probably don’t need my review, but for the others, this is well worth picking up. If you buy your music on iTunes or Amazon, there’s a deluxe edition available that has acoustic versions of Angels & Fall Afresh available.

This Is What You Do is a great ending to the album.  As it slowly moves from worshipful & contemplatives songs, it ends on a nice upbeat song.  ”It’s always like springtime for you, making all things new… this is what You do, You make me come alive, it’s like I’m living for the first time”.

Grade: 4/5

Tracklist:
1. One Thing Remains
2. My Dear
3. You Have Won Me
4. Come to Me
5. Walk in the Promise
6. You Know Me
7. Angels
8. Fall Afresh
9. Draw Near
10. This is What You Do
11. Angels (Acoustic – Deluxe Edition)
12. Fall Afresh (Acoustic – Deluxe Edition)

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