Giltrap, Gordon: Peace Will Fall

Being very much treated as a new release, Peace Will Fall is a chance to look back on the collaboration guitarist Gordon Giltrap created with singer Carol Lee Sampson and lyricist (and guitarist) Reverend Martin Green. Released under the name Echoes Of Heaven in 2012, the track listing for this renamed venture is identical other than "Heartsong" being replaced here by "The Lord's Seat". As you've maybe deduced from the involvement of a Reverend in the lyrical department and song titles such as that above, Peace Will Fall celebrates Giltrap, Sampson and Green's Christian faith. Not quite falling into the category of worship music, the lyrics are still clear in their intentions, with a few selections, such as "Mary", actually lifting some spoken word sections from Christian scripture; this track recounting the resurrection of Christ and Mary Magdalene's discovery of those events. Paced beautifully by Giltrap's unmistakable acoustic guitar playing, there's little doubt that much of this song and indeed the whole album, falls close to being hymnal, but avoids being twee or indeed, for the large part too blatant in approach.

Never quite a rock, prog, or folk guitarist, Giltrap's pastoral style sits perfectly in this domain, his personal approach illustrated wonderfully on "First Light", as it compliments the passionate but restrained vocals from Sampson. In many ways it's the voice that makes the strongest impression here, Giltrap, a musician most often known an as instrumentalist, allowing the lady behind the mic more than enough room to shine, while never simply blending into the background. It's a trait revealed time and again, the busy guitar work on "Love Wins" never intruding into the vocal space, always leaving the over all impression as bright and breezy, while side stepping any notion of quaintness.

Beautifully imagined though it is, it's possible that the spoken word scripture and clean electric guitar of "Echoes Of Heaven" will hold a limited appeal beyond Giltrap's core audience and those from the worship music community. Something that can also apply to the newly included "The Lord's Seat", a slightly more baroque style incorporated into a similar framework. That said, if you hold beautiful acoustic guitar playing close to your heart, then there's little doubt that what Gordon Giltrap specialises in should appeal to you on every level. With wonderful vocals and heartfelt lyrics also feeling right at home in those same surrounds, this may not be an album you'll reach for often, but it's sure to delight when you do.

Track Listing
1. Praise Him
2. The Best Of Me
3. This Father's Love
4. Under A Blue Sky
5. The Lords Seat
6. Christmas Carol
7. Mary
8. First Light
9. In Honour Of Your Name
10. Love Wins
11. The Lord Is My Strength
12. Walk Beside Me
13. Echoes Of Heaven
14. Peace Will Fall

Added: February 7th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Peace Will Fall @ Angel Air
Hits: 1848
Language: english

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