Darrell Evans brings his usual textured approach to "Uncharted Waters," a collection of moving and rousing songs of worship. Perfect for real life faith. The best kind.
As the guitar-driven "You Stole My Heart" opens the album you know you're in for another wild ride, a la Evans, full of moving truth and rousing music. This rocker, sung from God's perspective, tells of our spiritual love affair. It's a stunner, and at times difficult to even consider God feeling this way toward us. But Darrell Evans never did shrink back from a challenge. He specializes in voicing the unspoken, and those raspy vocals only authenticate his message. "Ready to Fly" is more of the same, a shimmering rocker, with a few retro chord changes to keep things lively. The title cut is a knockout, its programming and strings giving it a gently rolling feel, not unlike the sea itself, very effective. Its lyrics are nothing less than poetic and, as always, brutally honest: "My vessel over waters glide/'til the hindrance be my pride."
"When I Pray," with its driving samba beat, includes the powerful lyric: "Praying in Gethsemane, I know you saw the ones like me." Darrell Evans has always been the one who spoke of the struggles we tend to keep hidden, the inner ugliness that resists the light. His strong rock chops, his keen spiritual insights and his willing heart open the door of ministry for him, and I've always appreciated his presence, through thick and thin. "All We Want" is classic Evans, a compelling song of redemption that rocks its way through deeply heartfelt lyrics. His voice drips with emotion, and the track is full of little rhythm gems that enrich the groove.
Things quiet down a bit after that, with the quiet acoustic ballad, "Beautiful Savior," delivered with passionate reverence. Evans has never been afraid of tranquility on an album, willing to take it all down to extended periods of quiet. "Down at Your Feet" is thick with worship and more of those tiny production touches that lead to silent wonder. The looming bass line and loop programming of "Audience of One" lend an interesting retro jam feel. The hushed "My Home is You" is live but shares the jam feel.
The album closes with several reprises, my only Darrell Evans complaint. His albums always include at least a few oldies, and I'm not sure why. One is fine, two is pushing, past that you're asking questions. The album loses a bit of energy in the second half anyhow, with so many worshipful ballads in a row. It's not unlike the progress of worship on Sunday morning, moving from up-tempo to slower songs of deep worship. His thinking might be exactly that, to provide a worship soundtrack. Closer "Fields of Grace" gets things jumping again, as it does on Sunday mornings.
Darrell Evans continues to make his own way. It may explain the lack of attention this last album received, but it deserved better. "Uncharted Waters" is one you don't want to miss.
