New Release From Bebo Norman
Between the Dreaming and the Coming True
Bebo Norman is having his mid-life moment early, and it’s all good. His new “Between the Dreaming and the Coming True” brims over with his new-found satisfaction.
Prior to his marriage a few years back, Bebo Norman was the poster boy for a certain perspective: a melancholic faith, if you will. It was well-received, but probably a lot harder to live off stage, and it is good to hear his newfound satisfaction, his ease with life and its complexities. He's no Pollyanna now, but he brings a new confidence and maturity to his work. The illuminating title describes his new position well; "Between the Dreaming and the Coming True" plays like a manifesto for the life lived in expectation.
Co-producer Jason Ingram, who also shared much of the writing duties, and Norman let the new lavish tone of his life spill over into this lush, full project. "Between the Dreaming and the Coming True" contains his familiar pop-rock acoustic intimacy, but it is enhanced by a full band. The impeccable arrangements include lots of gorgeous strings, pristine programming nuances, and perfectly placed horns. The production of the album fits flawlessly with the optimism and cheer of the songs themselves, and its sum expresses brilliantly the newly contented heart of its creator.
Opener "Into the Day" launches the album, a soaring melodic rocker with some energetic old-school changes and urgently hopeful lyrics. The nicely-nuanced "Be My Covering" expands Norman's confidence to a global level, showing up on electric guitar as well. "Time Takes Its Toll On Us" stands out for a number of reasons, going right to the core of the album's message. We live in between the promise and its fulfillment, and our world is tumultuous, with occasionally mundane relationships. . . . time does take its toll. This isn't just another hallelujah album, it's braver than that. The song is unadorned acoustic truth, sung from a place of acknowledged blessing, covering a vital concept. Lots of artists talk about being "real" in their music; "Time Takes Its Toll On Us" is as real as it gets. Even relatively new to marriage, Norman sings of the reality of relationship life, its ebbs and flows, with both wisdom and grace. The quiet little sparkler, "The Way We Mend," embraces the mutual submission of a holy marriage, gentle amens emanating from a lovely French horn. He may be new to this marriage thing, but he's got some insight. It shows up with great warmth on the bouncy "To Find My Way to You" and the upbeat "Sunday" contains as much astute comprehension about marriage as anything I've heard from the pulpit this year.
But my favorite track is the majestic and moving "My Eyes have Seen Holy," with its lush yet temperate string arrangement and understated drums. Norman's piercing vocals portray our desperate worship, and I am drawn to my knees. Bebo Norman waited a long time to get to the place of "Between the Dreaming and the Coming True," but he made the time count. Our Bebo has gone and grown up on us. Hear it for yourself when "Between the Dreaming and the Coming True" releases September 19th.
