Enter the Worship Circle: Review
Aaron Strumpel: Chair and Microphone, Volume 2
I've always found much to appreciate about the Enter the Worship Circle projects. Aaron Strumpel takes it to the next level with "Chair and Microphone, Volume 2."
Bravely naked, Aaron Strumpel offers a severely stripped down album that is exactly as described: a chair and a microphone. Volume 1, 2004, featured Enter the Worship Circle's founder, Ben Pasley, in a similar format: a musical conversation with God. Aaron is a passionate man whose fervor spills out lavishly across this startling effort. The series intentionally seeks to initiate a journey for listeners by inviting them into this raw, intimate and unapologetic conversation with God. Deliberately presented as "one instrument and one voice, recorded simply, in real time, one time. This recording bleeds out the heart of Aaron Strumpel in conversation with God. Protest, adore, discover, relocate." "Bleeds out" may be the operative word there, for I have rarely heard a more vulnerable, sacrificial approach to recording an album.
With no overdubs and no polish, the stark simplicity of Strumpel's one guitar, one voice sound aims right for your heart, his deliberate target. Aaron's own heart for the poor and oppressed has been broken, and his musical goal is to promote help for the suffering. On "Chair and Microphone, Volume 2" this comes across strongly on tracks like "Pain," brutal in its vulnerability. Strumpel's shrieking plea for the cessation of pain scorches your soul with his own agony in the song's last seconds. "Chair and Microphone, Volume 2" is not for the faint of heart, but for those who are willing to have their own hearts broken with the things that break the heart of God. But isn't that the prayer that rises from our churches?
As stated, there is much to lead the heart to adoration as well, most notably the soaring praises of "Twenty-three," the affirmations of "Centuries," and the nimble and melodic closer, "For Joy." Strumpel gets a very full sound from this simple chair and mic, as well as the opportunity to reference an old jazz hero on the muscular pleaser "Coltrane." Another favorite for me was "Hosanna," intimate and honest. If your soul has the slightest crack of access, Strumpel will find it and haunt you with his daring and challenging truths. Hopefully, his music will also relocate you to a place of willing service as well. For more information about the particulars of how and where you might help, visit his website and the Enter the Worship Circle site.
