Fortunate Fall Records
Release Date: November 14th 2016
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Audrey Assad– Winter EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Song For A Winter’s Night
- Midwinter
- Winter’s Snow
Originally signed to Sparrow Records, pop/folk singer songwriter Audrey Assad, over the past few years, have released plenty of engaging and inspiring material- having already released 3 albums and 2 EP’s over the past few years (The House You’re Building in 2010, Heart in 2012, Fortunate Fall in 2013, and O Happy Fault and Death Not Be Proud in 2014), as well as an EP titled Arrow under the moniker LEVV. With Audrey dropping Inheritance earlier this year, as well as Audrey’s deluxe edition of the brand new album; we are gently reminded of God’s faithfulness, and immense love for us. Now recently dropping a brand new Christmas EP, titled Winter, Audrey presents us with a compelling, stirring, although brief set of songs, as we worship with Jesus and reflect on him coming to earth 2000 + years ago.
Standing at only 3 songs short, the EP starts off with the lesser known Christmas carol “Song for a Winter’s Night”, originally written and recorded by Gordon Lightfoot. Though not a melody sung about Jesus, Audrey does remind us of Jesus’ love for us subtly, as the ‘carol’ highlights the fact that during the holidays, we should all be in the presence of loved ones, with Audrey reiterating the fact that ‘…if I could only have you near, to breathe a sigh or two, I would be happy just to hold the hands I love, on this winter night with you…’; and also implying that the love we have for our loved ones is a fraction of the love God has for each one of us. With Audrey also covering “Midwinter”, essentially a worship song highlighting the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who was born in a manger, is worthy of our praise and adoration; it is in fact Audrey’s most famous Christmas song, the original “Winter Snow” that inspires me the most on this track list. Reminding us that Jesus came to earth, not as a king or as a majestic ruler, but as a baby, later to grow up as the most controversial teacher and servant this world; Audrey’s assertion that ‘…You came like a winter snow, quiet and soft and slow, falling from the sky in the night, to the earth below…’ highlights the fact that Jesus came not to bring us physical freedom, but rather spiritual freedom as well. And as we sit and reflect upon this fact, that Jesus frees us in more ways we can imagine…the EP ends!
Though Audrey Assad has been very busy of late, with her full length LEVV side project full album release sometime soon (I’m not sure when, but perhaps early 2017?); it’s still evident that Audrey’s busyness doesn’t compromise the quality in her song writing and singing, shown in this brief but nevertheless impacting and inspiring Christmas EP. With O Happy Fault and Death Not Be Proud being some of 2014’s buried treasures; Audrey has provided us with an edifying, worshipful and inspirational experience in Inheritance and a stellar batch of piano led Christmas melodies in Winter EP. With Inheritance and Inheritance Deluxe Edition almost guaranteed to succeed, I reckon Winter will follow suit, in the lead up to maybe a new album from Audrey next year will all original material. Well done Audrey, and I can’t wait to hear more of your inspiring and encouraging material in the near and far future!
3 songs to listen to: All Of Them!
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Nichole Nordeman, Ellie Holcomb, Sara Groves, Brooke Fraser