Brightwork – Hope for Love EP

brightwork- hope for love

Independent

Release Date: July 3rd 2014

Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre

BrightworkHope for Love EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

  1. Rescue Remedy
  2. Difference
  3. Write This Down

‘…Our heart is to integrate our desire in performing and creating music with the mission of loving people, sharing hope through our times together. To us, music is just the means we’ve been given to genuinely connect with people and share what really matters…our songs are a way that we get to express that love and share our goals, doubts, and the experiences that they come from…’ While indie worship band Brightwork have been around for a while, I’ve only recently listened to them with the release of their 2014 EP Hope for Love. A cross between artists like The Royal Royal, Abandon or Sanctus Real; this is a band to take notice of, as each of these three songs highlight what is the best in electronic worship and pop, as we are met with some songs that are possibly one of the most underrated in 2014 so far. While I’ve only heard this EP from Brightwork, I’m instantly a fan. With honest truths poignantly shown to listeners in a relevant way, we are given a set of songs to reflect upon in every season, as we realise that ‘…I’ve got hope, so here’s what I’ll do with it, I’ll give everything I’ve got to show love, be the one that makes the difference…’ (“Difference”).

Only 3 tracks, each of the melodies utilises a unique genre to showcase the band as being one that can easily fit in a numerous amount of musical backdrops and therefore increase their appeal to a wider musical audience. With “Rescue Remedy” being the most energetic and upbeat melody of the 3 song set, Brightwork start off the album with a bang in the form of electronic keyboards and grunging guitars and the band declaring out that ‘…You’re my rescue, You’re my remedy, You’re the answer, right in front of me, when my heart breaks, all that I can see, You’re my rescue, You’re my remedy…’, a cry of declaration to the Lord as we give all we are to Him. Another one of my favourite songs on the EP, this also is a great melody to Sunday church set lists in the near future. “Difference” is Brightwork’s radio track- with light acoustics, electronic keyboards, and a vocal not that dissimilar to Matt Hammitt’s or Mike Grayson’s; the song gives us a reminder to us to make a difference whenever and wherever we are- an indie version of Matthew West’s “Do Something” if you will.

With easy to learn lyrics, a catchy beat and a message of hope and proactive love as we show Christ to our neighbours and friends in the way we act and relate to them; “Difference”, Brightwork’s track 2, is a certain standout on the EP (and my favourite) and a song that’ll hopefully climb the radio charts throughout 2014. “Write this Down” ends the EP, and is the most mellow track on the 3 song collection. Nevertheless, it is one to consider and ponder as the band relay a theme of declaring God Lord over everything we are. With the combination of acoustic guitars, Brightwork’s ethereal lead vocal, and lyrics to be emotional over, the band utilise the stripped back nature of the song to bring forth the message of how ‘…I wanna sing your song, I wanna write your melodies, be your harmony, I want to know, you’re gonna be with me, you’re gonna fill my every need, so I can give you everything…’, singing to God a prayer we ought not to take lightly. Surrendering to God everyday is a conscious choice, and hopefully this song will bring much more direction and clarity to listeners of CCM (and mainstream) music around the world.

Brightwork’s new music collection, Hope for Love is indeed an EP full of hope and love as indie artists continue to break new ground and release great music in the year of 2014, with Brightwork being one of them. While they are still relatively new to the music industry, Hope for Love EP is sure to change all of that as the band continue to rise up my own ranks to deliver an EP that’s one of my favourites of 2014 so far. A band to listen to if you enjoy artists like Sanctus Real, Abandon or Audio Adrenaline; this is a A+ effort from Brightwork and an EP that’s going to be on rotation on iTunes for a while yet!

3 songs to listen to: all of them

Score: 4/5

RIYL: Audio Adrenaline, The Royal Royal, Abandon, Sanctus Real

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