This week we have an illuminating review of the (not-so) freshman
album from LUNA HALO, which you can WIN by reading your cMusicMail
this next month!

SHIMMER - LUNA HALO (2000)
by Josh Shepherd
Equation: two guitarists of the now-defunct Reality Check plus two of
their friends to fill the vacant rhythm section equals an outfit that
makes a nice debut, but are obviously music freshman, right? Wrong—
with Luna Halo, the whole is greater than the sum of all its parts,
and Shimmer works as both a pop, rock, and worship album. First
track "Aliens" emits a swarthy meditation on panting for purity of
mind and motive. Following that, one of the new millennium's first
truly great singles, "Superman" encroaches on listeners' starry-eyed
infatuation, reminding: "If I could fly...why would I be standing
here?" The Luna Halo sound works as well on the unhurried
tracks "Carry Me" and "Forgiveness" as it does on the agitated "Wait
for You." Nathan Barlowe's vocal force is upheld capably by Jonny
MacIntosh (guitar, keys), Brad Minor (bass), and Jonathan Smith
(drums, percussion). For all its mix of power pop, praise, and
electronica, Shimmer is first and foremost a guitar album, with
Barlowe and MacIntosh's sleek, psychotic riffs having the final say
in almost every song. After the band petitioned their friend Martin
Smith to write a song, "Hang On to You" was born. A mold-breaking cut
of reliance and expectancy, the song is best expounded by this
line: "Looking out like a little child ~ Holding tight when it all
gets wild." The grappling refute "So Far" is a telling lead-in
to "Running Away," an abandonment of a satisfying, self-led life in
light of a new contingence on God. Airy yet jagged, "Beautiful"
exemplifies Luna Halo's suspension of sonic resolve with the
contention of minor-key verses with the decisive chorus. Quickly
becoming my personal fave, track 11 weeps with ire and dejection as
it watches a "Complacent" friend grow content with his own life and
standing. Again mingling sentiment and persuasion, "The Way to Your
Heart" articulates salvation and conciliation with one who's "lost
the will to fight." Grasping for maturity and affinity despite loss,
the Shimmer of Luna Halo's reflections is unmistakable, a blinding
recognition of Jesus as all that matters. The Luna Halo guys also
show great maturity, tightness, and promise as one of the premiere,
and sorely-needed new modern rock bands in Christian music.

For more information on other galaxies of the LUNA HALO, please check
out cMusicWeb.com:
http://www.cMusicWeb.com/music/rock/lunahalo


AVAILABLE TODAY (on cMusicWeb.com and at your local store)

I COULD SING OF YOUR LOVE FOREVER - VARIOUS
Although they take the SONICFLOOd version of the title track for this
album, this 2-Disc set has more great songs of worship than WoW
Worship Orange and Blue combined! Matt Redman, delirious? and other
UK worship leaders and US worshipers such as Passion and Darrell
Evans make this album a collection of worship not to miss! The PICK
OF THE DAY.

LIVE AND UNRESERVED - REVIVAL GENERATION
Picking up where 12 Songs that Rocked a Nation left off, this album
has a collection of newer UK worship live from Matt Redman, Paul
Oakley and many more.


AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER (on Christian MusicWeb)
All Things New - Watermark [6/20]
Salvador (self-titled) [6/20]
Send Me An Angel - Heather Miller [6/20]
Set You Free - Tammy Trent [6/20]
WoW Gold - Various [6/20]
Best of Bride - Bride [6/27]
Coming To Life - The Normals [6/27]
Progress EP - Pedro the Lion [6/27]
Offerings: A Worship Album - Third Day [7/11]
Superhero - Scarecrow and Tinmen [7/11]

To get any of these titles delivered to your door on the release date,
please go to:
http://www.cmusicweb.com/news/index.html#RELEASES
Also, read the instructions so that they do come on the release date


cMUSICWEB UPDATES
• We're working on a new cMusicWeb.com design which will be easier,
better, and cooler to show off to your friends! Also, this
newsletter will come out Monday or Wednesday for the rest of the
summer, but I'm not sure which day at the moment.


Thanks for reading cMusicMail, and we'll be back next week with some
more on Christian Music. As long as you stay subscribed to this
list, you're entered to win a FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPY of Shimmer by
LUNA HALO, so don't unsubscribe! If you have any comments of
questions, please send us an e-mail.

Dan Ficker
http://www.cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
win FREE music in cMusicMail!
ICQ - 43224317 AOL IM - dMusicWeb