Ben Boquist – Magnificat
We may be on the cusp of the Golden Age of Christian Rock, and not even know it. In fact, it’s not just the Christians wielding guitars that may have their day in the Sun, but many other spiritual movements using music as a tool for worship.
How am I so confident? After all, modern Christian music has never been any good and has been widely ridiculed for its success with a niche audience. And, after all, the only time the world agrees to listen to quasi-spiritual songs is around the holidays.
But, this is just the right time! The world is hungry for spirituality even though it doesn’t know it. Maybe that’s why it is fighting so hard to keep it out of popular culture. And the same world is going to need colossal talents like Ben Boquist delivering some beauty in this age of ugliness.
Strictly speaking, Ben Boquist’s “Magnificat” is a beautifully interpreted Christmas carol, inspired by classical and traditional music. However, the lead vocals, the all-important focus of the song, contain something wholly modern and vital about them. There’s a mystery there that I wouldn’t blame you for desiring to figure out. Strange, great developments are underway.
Alucuo – Alucuo
Maybe it’s because we’re always in a hurry. But, everything is supposed to mean something nowadays. Things have to solve some gigantic problem that you can’t solve yourself if they’re going to be worth anything.
Naturally, going by that logic, hits (as if the term has the same meaning that it once did) are supposed to fit a certain formula. Maybe that’s the reason why the only people who are allowed to try and write one are the ones who have mastered the blueprint and have promised never to stray from it.
However, if you’re stuck with trying to get everything to make sense, you’re stuck with a dull life. The music Alucuo, like the greatest poetry that this planet can provide, can’t be neatly defined, and won’t be easily labelled.
In fact, Alucuo’s self-titled instrumental piece is used, the author assures, as a wish for help and improvement. This is medicine music. It’s Brian Wilson’s proverbial good vibrations sprayed out into the world. What precisely it’s going to do and how you must use it are things that you can only find out for yourself. Be glad there are no further rules! It’s the mystery of this world that keeps us moving forward!
