Artist: Starfield
Album: The Saving One
Year: 2010
Label: Sparrow Records/EMI CMG
Website: http://www.starfieldonline.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/starfield
Twitter: @starfieldband
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: Hillsong United, Delirious?, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band
Rating: 4/5 ♥♥♥♥

Whenever Starfield launched an album, my expectation increases in larger scales. Whether his brilliant musical arrangements, his creative modern worship style, the harmonies or the passionate and heartfelt lyrics in each song. There’s always reason to amaze me with their work, and what a good gift for us summer with this amazing release. “The Saving One” was produced by the talented and veteran Ian Eskelin (All Star United vocalist) with each of the band members, delivering his particular signature of contemporary worship through personal confessions and songs of praise to our Savior.

The titletrack “The Saving One”, gives us a sort of modern hymn with strong guitar riffs, steady drums and a spiritual depth that preaches salvation: “No fear can hold me down / No darkness steal my joy / For blood has been poured out / The enemy destroyed / Death could not hold Him down / The cross was not enough / To steal away His throne / For He is God”. With a piano intermediate, and a desperate lyric about returning to the first love, first single “Rediscover You” is a prayer to God for us to rediscover the things of his kingdom: “I want to learn to pray / The way that David prayed / I want my soul to burn when I hear Your name / I want to feel like new / I want to hunger for You / Bring me back to life like only You can do / ‘Cause I don’t want to stay the same”. The single is already impacting AC & CHR radio formats with a large audience, and Tim Neufeld (vocals) confesses: “This song is a description of my walk with Christ, in the most honest way. I am desperate to rediscover the things of God. I long to be real and passionate. I want to learn to walk by faith, and I find incredible freedom in saying these wishes in the lyrics of this song”. With a nearly 60 second’s instrumental introduction, “Declaration Of Independence” where Tim and Jon Neufeld create voltage loads on their guitars, while Dave Lalonde explodes with the drums and James Johnson made their presence felt in every chord. Sounds like a dcTalk or Delirious? B-side. With a simple but delusional lyric: “I’ve had the revelation / This is my declaration / More of you, oh God, and less of me”. Using synthesizers and ingenious sequences, “No Other Savior” becomes a relevant worship song, extolling the attributes of Christ in an impetuous melody: “Sacrificed to death / For us, Your final breath / You died, the world to sabe / To overcome the grave”. The beautiful “Something To Say” grabs you in seconds, with the delicate piano and the eerie vocal performance from Tim in the choir, using sublime falsetto to externalize the confession of our doubt by believing in God when He seems distant and in the silence we can hear his softly voice: “I’ve got something to say / Right now it feels like You are slipping away / Like I am drowning in a crisis of faith / Like I was found, but now I’m lost in the fray”. I have not heard a song as sincere as this for a long time, honesty that strangely refreshes you. The intimate “Absolutely” transports you to an atmosphere of worship that gives our trust to God in an acoustic prayer of dependence and love: “Down upon my knees / I’m lost in worship / Humbled by Your majesty / What is there to say / But how I love You / Thank You for forgiving me”. Songs like “Overwhelm” incorporate powerful guitars, and once again an excellent vocal harmonizing: “Desperate for Your presence / I long for You alone / So dwell within me, Jesus / This temple is Your home / I am ready for this life to be consumed”. Quickly “Top Of Our Lungs” flirts with a hint dance/club/techno/glow and rock/pop interesting fusion. The message is about to declare his glory and fame throughout the earth, proclaim our redemption, our freedom: “We’re gonna shout His praise at the top of our lungs / We’re gonna dance for the glory of the risen Son / We’re not ashamed, not ashamed of the One we love / We’re gonna shout His praise at the top of our lungs”. For this we were created and it is our destiny. “Beautiful The Sound” continues exalting our God: “From the Earth, our voices will ascend / As an offering to You alone / May our praises echo without end / Join the angel choir around the throne”. Perfect components to become a radio success or to be played in a church service. The formidable and sweet “Father”, searches for identity, friendship, companionship, loyalty that only God can give us: “You are my Father / Your love will never fail me / A friend like no other / Your trusted arms will hold me / You are my Father”. Impressionable sumptuous harmonies and acoustic arrangements, we find on the acoustic version of “The Saving One” that consolidates it as a whole hymn.

These Canadians give us rewarding mix of honesty, poetic lyrics and haunting melodies with a personal perspective incorporated into worship. “The Saving One” is the right candidate for a fresh intimacy with God. These songs reveal a breach, reliance on God, and grace, the emotion is powerful, and many can easily identify with the confessions of need that these songs contain. Starfield has returned, and with great energy.

Cada vez que Starfield lanza un álbum, mi expectativa aumenta en escalas mayores. Ya sea por sus geniales arreglos musicales, su creativo estilo modern worship, las harmonías o las letras apasionadas y sinceras en cada canción. Siempre hay motivos de sobra para asombrarme con su trabajo, y qué buen regalo de verano nos han. “The Saving One” fue producido por el talentoso y veterano Ian Eskelin (vocalista además de All Star United) junto a cada uno de los miembros de la banda, entregando su firma original de adoración contemporánea a través de confesiones personales y canciones de alabanza a nuestro Salvador.

El titletrack “The Saving One”, nos regala una especia de himno moderno con sólidos riffs de guitarras, constantes tambores y una profundidad espiritual que pregona salvación: “No fear can hold me down / No darkness steal my joy / For blood has been poured out / The enemy destroyed / Death could not hold Him down / The cross was not enough / To steal away His throne / For He is God”. Con un intermedio de piano, y una letra desesperada por regresar al primer amor, el primer sencillo “Rediscover You” es una plegaria a Dios por volver a descubrir las cosas de su Reino: “I want to learn to pray / The way that David prayed / I want my soul to burn when I hear Your name / I want to feel like new / I want to hunger for You / Bring me back to life like only You can do / ‘Cause I don’t want to stay the same”. El sencillo ya está impactando las radios de formato CHR y AC con una gran audiencia, y Tim Neufeld (vocalista) nos confiesa: “Esta canción es una descripción de mi caminar con Cristo, de la manera más honesta. Me encuentro desesperado por volver a descubrir las cosas de Dios. Anhelo lo real y quiero estar apasionado. Quiero volver a aprender a caminar por fe, y encuentro increíble libertad al decir esos deseos en la letra de esta canción”. Con una introducción instrumental de casi 60 segundos, “Declaration Of Independence” en dónde Tim y Jon Neufeld crean cargas de voltaje en sus guitarras, mientras que Dave Lalonde explosiona con las batería, y James Johnson hace sentir su presencia en cada compás. Suena como un b-side de dcTalk o de Delirious?, con una lírica simple pero delirante: “I’ve had the revelation / This is my declaration / More of you, oh God, and less of me”. Empleando sintetizadores e ingeniosas secuencias, “No Other Saviour” se convierte en una relevante canción de adoración, exaltando los atributos de Cristo en una impetuosa melodía: “Sacrificed to death / For us, Your final breath / You died, the world to sabe / To overcome the grave”. La hermosa “Something To Say” te atrapa en cuestión de segundos, con aquel delicado piano, y la estremecedora performance vocal de Tim en el coro, usando sublimes falsetes para exteriorizar la confesión de nuestra duda al creer en Dios, cuando Él parece distante y en medio del silencio podemos oír suavemente su voz: “I’ve got something to say / Right now it feels like You are slipping away / Like I am drowning in a crisis of faith / Like I was found, but now I’m lost in the fray”. No he escuchado canción tan sincera como esta en mucho tiempo, honestidad que extrañamente te refresca. La íntima “Absolutely” te transporta a una atmósfera de adoración que le entrega nuestra confianza a Dios, en una oración acústica de dependencia y amor: “Down upon my knees / I’m lost in worship / Humbled by Your majesty / What is there to say / But how I love You / Thank You for forgiving me”. Canciones como “Overwhelm” incorporan potentes guitarras, y una vez más una excelente armonización vocal: “Desperate for Your presence / I long for You alone / So dwell within me, Jesus / This temple is Your home / I am ready for this life to be consumed”. Rápidamente “Top Of Our Lungs” coquetea con un ligero matiz de dance/club/techno/glow y rock/pop interesantemente fusionados. El mensaje es sobre declarar su gloria y su fama por toda la tierra, proclamar nuestra redención, nuestra libertad: “We’re gonna shout His praise at the top of our lungs / We’re gonna dance for the glory of the risen Son / We’re not ashamed, not ashamed of the One we love / We’re gonna shout His praise at the top of our lungs”. Para esto fuimos creados y es nuestro destino. “Beautiful The Sound” continúa enalteciendo a nuestro Dios: “From the Earth, our voices will ascend / As an offering to You alone / May our praises echo without end / Join the angel choir around the throne”. Componentes perfectos para convertirse en todo un éxito de radio o para ser tocada en un servicio de iglesia. La formidable y dulce “Father”, busca la identidad, la amistad, la compañía, la fidelidad que solo Dios nos puede dar: “You are my Father / Your love will never fail me / A friend like no other / Your trusted arms will hold me / You are my Father”. Impresionables arreglos acústicos y fastuosas harmonías, hallamos en la versión acústica de “The Saving One”, que la consolidan como todo un himno.

Estos canadienses nos dan gratificante mezcla de honestidad, letras poéticas y melodías cautivantes con una perspectiva personal incorporada en adoración. “The Saving One” es el candidato indicado para una fresca intimida con Dios. Estas canciones revelan quebrantamiento, dependencia de Dios, y gracia; la emoción es poderosa, y muchos fácilmente se identificaran con las confesiones de necesidad que estas canciones contienen. Starfield ha regresado, y con mucha energía.