Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars [iTunes link]
Hymns are often the focal point (and thus, a casualty) of the conflict between “traditional” and “contemporary” worship. Too many have, and continue to, throw out the good with the bad, as those in the “contemporary” camp reject hymns altogether. They neglect to consider, however, the importance of the songs themselves, as well as their connection to the history of the church.
Enter, Page CXVI.
The trio of Latifah Phillips, Reid Phillips, and Dann Stockton have come together for one simple reason: to make hymns known and accessible again in today’s church. The group name is a reference to page 116 of C. S. Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew, where Aslan sings Narnia into existence. The reference is likely designed to emphasize the timelessness of the songs the group presents, the songs that have formed the foundation of the church’s corporate worship for hundreds of years.
I simply love these guys. They have released four hymn collections, and they all follow the same general style: raw, unplugged, and simple. I highly recommend all of the projects the band offers, but I wanted to focus on their Re-Hymns album in this post. The band takes hymns and presents them in a refreshingly new way, which is fantastic on its own. This album, however, takes a fan-selected group of favorites from Page CXVI’s four hymn collections and hands them off to singer/songwriter/producer Derek Webb.
Derek Webb is one of the more talented (and controversial) artists in Christian music, and he gives these hymns just enough of his signature remix treatment. The result is a re-imagining of the re-imagined that both surprises and inspires the listener. Webb’s remixing does not take away from the talent or feel of Page CXVI, but it adds slightly more edge to their overall sound. Yet, at the same time, the electronic sound that is stereotypical to remixes in general is not overpowering. You will forget you are listening to a collection of hymns, at times, but you will also forget that you are listening to a remix album.
I hope that Page CXVI will continue to offer many releases in the near future, and I have nothing but respect for what their doing. I could have easily chosen any of their offerings to review, because they are all of the highest quality. Their collective heart certainly in the right place, and it is where many should be in the church today. Simply put, worship should transcend style and song, uniting the body of Christ in the praise of our Creator.