Review

Contemporary Christian artist David Phelps has just released his latest CD, "The Voice". Last night I settled into my pillow with my Sansa MP3 Player to take a listen. From the first note of his peerless cover of Foreigner's "I want to know what love is" to the last note of "Your love", I was carried away into another world full of lush melodies, angelic imagry and even a spiritual battleground in "The end of the line", a song befitting of a Webber-esque rock opera.

This recording marks a turning point in David Phelps' artistic journey of faith. He performs with a freedom and maturity that are doubtless a culmination of years honing his talent with the Gaither Vocal Band and his prior solo projects. While all of his work has been - in this girl's opinion - well done and often spine-chilling vocally, this one is different. It's as if his previous work had been mere stepping stones to this place where his unique style, gifts of writing and arranging, his musical influences and his personality combine into a fantastical blend of sultry and energetic.

What I found myself most impressed with is that he no longer plays only upon his stunning 4 octave tenor range to wow the audience, but that he "lives" each song. He lets the lyrics and the message of each one color his delivery - drawing on a previously underplayed lower range that whispers and rasps as led by the spirit of each piece.

Knowing the solid faith of this performer's heart, that Spirit no doubt is an overflow of The God that he loves and lives for. Songs which in the mainstream might simply be a love song to a human lover, Phelps leaves one guessing as to whom he sings these songs of devotion. His beloved wife? Or his beloved Lord? Quite possibly both. And that is the beauty of The Voice. It wraps you up in a world of love and surrender, tender mercies and everlasting life; All of which come from Heaven and invade the Earth through human vessels....In this case, an artist with a voice and talent worthy of extended ovation.