Kim Gentes

In the mid-90s a number of local musicians, songwriters and worship leaders in the UK began to flourish and influence not only their nation but the world in bringing new songs to the church. From that stream of praise and worship comes possibly the most influential songwriter over the last 20 years within the modern worship movement- Matt Redman. Redman's songs have been used across the globe, and in virtually every Christian denomination. They have been recorded by countless other leaders, artists and musicians. And while Redman shirks the notariety of his influence, there is scarecly a Christian musician or leader in North America that would not recognize his songs or his name.

Matt Redman was introduced to the North American church largely through the efforts of the music label WorshipTogether, a brand of EMI Christian Music in the United States. The WorshipTogether moniker was comprised largely of songs and recordings from UK leaders and songwriters that were connected with Kingsway Music.  As part of that effort, WorshipTogether introduced Delirious?, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes and others to a broad church and consumer music market from 1998 until the present. While some of Delirious? (Martin Smith) and Matt Redman's songs were making their way across the pond before the EMI marketing effort began, the impact and effectiveness of the WorshipTogether brand, recordings, marketing and website was nothing short of phenomenal.

To review either of Matt Redman's first two albums seems a bit misinformed, as both albums were released first in the UK and both contained slight modifications before being introduced to the US market. The first was a merger of UK releases (songs from UK releases "Passion For Your Name" and "The Friendship and the Fear" became  the US version of "The Friendship and the Fear"), the second was simply a name change (UK "Intimacy" was released as "The Heart of Worship" in the US). In any case, we review each album here.

Redman's first recording that released in the US was "The Friendship and the Fear" in 1998 (released through the EMI StarSong label).  This album was chock full of singable and upbeat songs that contained a rock driven sound with fresh rhythmic sensibilities such as Believer and Better Is One Day. But it was mixed in with intimate melodic classics that have become staples in churches worldwide- such as I Will Offer Up My Life and Once Again. Each of these songs resonated across the North American church, but probably none more so than the Better Is One Day track, which found wings on many other recordings including the phenomenal explosion of the Passion youth gatherings and their associated recordings, whose breakout album in 2000 not only included the song but was entited "Passion: Better Is One Day".

After establishing a strong presence in the church with "The Friendship and the Fear", WorshipTogether released another album by Redman a year later. In 1999, the WorshipTogether label released what would become, at the time, Matt Redman's signature album and song in "The Heart of Worship" (it would later be eclipsed only by his most popular song, Blessed Be The Name). Like Believer on "The Friendship and the Fear", this new album included another celebratory praise hit with Let Everything That Has Breath. But it was the title track that seemed to find its way into hearts across not only North America but the world. In what Redman would later explain as a response to God's corrective to him (as part of his serving in a local church worship leader context), the lyrics of the song The Heart of Worship focused on repentance and Godward devotion intended for worship rather than the music in which praise or worship may be delivered.

These two albums were not only the introduction of Matt Redman as a worship leader and songwriter, they were the seedbed of dozens of other recordings both in North America and abroad. The songs were just the first of dozens that Redman would continue to write, which eventually placed him as one of the most prominent church songwriters in the last 100 years.  And he continues to write the songs of our modern liturgy, even today.  These original albums are still available and are a great archive of wonderful songs usable for churches.

Product Links:

The Friendship And The Fear - Matt Redman (1998)

The Heart Of Worship  - Matt Redman (1999)

Review by Kim Gentes