By: Kevan Breitinger
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Chris Taylor
Take Me Anywhere
BEC Recordings
Pop
04-15-2008
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SCORE
 
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Think poetic pop overflowing with deep feeling. Add majestic arrangements and ethereally expressive vocals. Meet Chris Taylor, a welcome addition to a music scene just panting for originality.
Taylor spent a season with Matt Redman and the Soul Survivor ministry training in worship leading, but his style is uniquely his own. His most obvious strength lies in the poetic imagery of his intense lyrics, but he is equally deft in his sonic creativity; not to get too ethereal myself, but there is a quality of light that pervades the thirteen tracks of Take Me Anywhere. The soft vocal and pulsating programming of opener “Turn Me Around” introduces an ambient luminosity that lingers well past the track’s passionate lyrics. “Made For You,” a worshipful song of surrender, is guitar-driven pop, thick with sound, whereas the synth-laden title track, with its slight techno vibe and echoing harmonies, is more progressive pop/modern worship, notable also for its breakbeat rhythms.
The grandly throbbing “Atmosphere” brings the mad genius of Mike Oldfield to mind, and its airy vocal and fresh acoustic accents only seal the deal. I liked the shimmering guitar accents of pop rocker “You See Through Me,” acknowledging the Lord’s supremacy, and the pulsating rhythms and swelling vocals of “I Don’t Need To Know,” Taylor’s guitar especially deft on the throbbing track. I was bowled over by the soft epic feel of “Symphony,” its quiet keys gleaming with light, a taut cello underscoring Taylor’s urgently intense vocal. Whirling with sound, the thick prog-rock ambience of “Speak To Me In Mysteries” accentuates the mystifying nature of God. Edgy guitar riffs provide a solid bed for Taylor’s soaring vocal on pulsating pop rocker “Found,” but it’s the Beatlesque “Safe,” rife with passion and poetry, that really wows me most. I liked the strong guitar movements and the big choir coming in at the end adds to the track’s majestic vibe. Also a must mention is the hooky chorus of the melodic “Lift Me Up.” The string-enhanced closer “Come Around” is delicate in its instrumentation yet potent in its stately movements and power lyrics, bursting finally into lush, gorgeous pop.
If you’ve been waiting for the next fresh take on the Christian music scene, you won’t want to miss Chris Taylor’s Take Me Anywhere.
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