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Surprisingly, "Hiding Place" is Don Moen's first full-length studio album. I know, shocking! Considering his position as a long-time award-winning worship icon, right?
And after all, “Hiding Place” is his 21st album! But Moen, also the President of Integrity Music, has always favored a “live” experience, up until now. This time Moen wanted to accentuate the ‘steal away’ feel of the project, to “create an atmosphere that encourages people to enter into God’s presence.” Wanting to provide escape from the cacophony of daily life, Moen offers up 12 songs of gentle and heartfelt worship, fronted by his soft vocals and supported by background vocalists ministering with the classic Integrity sound. Opener “Hiding Place,” the title track, immediately sets the album’s tone: mellow and intimate, the quality of music excellent but restrained. Like most Integrity projects, the focus here is not on the instrumentation but the message. The songs have an easy-going feel to them, even the up-tempo tracks. Several offer brief teachings mid-song, Moen gently offering words of encouragement or Scripture readings over the mellow backdrop of quiet piano (the upbeat “He Never Sleeps”) or whistles (the standout track, “Revelation Song,” a dramatic and atmospheric song, featuring the vocals of Aimee Joy Weimer). There’s some fine electric guitar moments (popping and funky on “Sacrifice of Praise” and adding an opening sizzle to “All the Earth”), and I enjoyed the way “Hear Us From Heaven” moved from its tranquil beginning into a passionate climax of desperation. Moen offers a few sweetly melodic ballads, including the stirring “Break Through,” which morphs mid-song into a more celebratory mode, the background vocals joyously pulsating. "Psalm 23" is deeply worshipful, featuring the lovely vocals of Leann Albrecht, harmonizing gloriously with Moen. The project closes with the soft and hope-drenched “Still/Be Still and Know,” a medley of the old and new (Reuben Morgan’s “Still” and the traditional and familiar “Be Still and Know.” A classic ending to another classic Integrity project.
The copyright of the article Don Moen: Hiding Place in Christian Music is owned by Kevan Breitinger. Permission to republish Don Moen: Hiding Place in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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