While big and powerful songs that celebrate Jesus’ triumph over death and evil will always rightfully have their place in a church’s worship rotation, a balanced repertoire requires songs that are a little harder to come by - those that reflect on our sinfulness and utter dependency on the marvelous grace of God. The Corner Room (Cahaba Park Church (Birmingham, AL) has given the Church a real gift with What great mystery, an album that capably meets that need, at once combining penetrating theological insight with moving, musical performance.
The EP consists of two original tunes, two retuned hymns and a rollicking rendition of the Doxology. The hymns, which stick closest to the unique folk country sound of The Corner Room’s previous release (their excellent ‘Psalms as songs’ album Psalm songs, volume I) are powerful prayers that Corner Room breathed new and vital life into - “O God be merciful to me” rings with optimism that its title prayer will indeed be answered and “Thy works not mine O Christ” is a simple, earnest confession complemented on the album by the vulnerability of The Corner Room coordinator Adam Wright’s voice. The original songs are easily as good as major label worship releases in terms of poetry and singability with the added bonus of broaching territory not often covered by their big name peers.
What great mystery provides the Church with well needed worship songs that celebrate the grace of God in the face of our need while at the same time providing an intimate devotional resource for private worship.
Sounds like – Steve Bell, Fernando Ortega, Red Mountain Music with some contemporary worship influence
Most singable – “What great mystery”
Biblical content – “Thy works not mine”
Whole package – “O God be merciful”
What great mystery releases August 2, 2016. Pre-order now by visiting Corner Room's online store. I also highly recommend Corner Room's previous project - the Psalms to songs album 'Psalm Songs, vol. I.'