LABEL: SPARROW RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 14, 2012

fell in love with Audrey Assad right at the beginning. I was won over just 3 tracks into her stunning debut The House You’re Building. And for once, it wasn’t just me- her 2010 release meant that Assad quickly became the darling of critics everywhere. And rightfully so. But after every debut must come a sophomore. And those are tough to get right.

Mess around too much and your fans won’t recognise you; hold too tightly to your formulae and the critics will mourn the lack of ‘growth’. Consecutive success is reasonably difficult, even seasoned artists struggle to find their ‘A-game’ for every release. Yet, Heart is simply spectacular. The minor flaws which we forgave in the debut but would have been unforgiveable in a follow-up LP are virtually non-existent. Audrey Assad has achieved something remarkable, a sophomore album worthy of replacing her debut.

Whilst I don’t believe that Heart purely a concept album, it is obvious to anyone listening that the themes that run throughout revolve around love, relationships and marriage. Written in the time running up to her nuptials and during the first year of wedded life, Assad sincerely explores the high points and the struggles, the joy and anguish of giving your heart to another.

The LP opens with “Blessed Are the Ones”; Assad’s sense of the poetic is as clear as ever as she writes about her expectations of marriage. ‘Let’s build a house with turned out doors, so we can share what love affords’. Sensitive song-writing is hallmark of Audrey Assad- Heart is peppered with beautiful lines. One of my favourites opens “Lament” ‘I’m Mary and I’m Martha all at the same time/ I’m sitting at His feet and yet I’m dying to be recognized”. Assad is also refreshingly honest; overused clichés and trite phrases are blissfully absent.

Audrey Assad’s powers of expression are not limited to her own work. Her reworking of the classic “His Eye is on the Sparrow” is simply brilliant. The transformation is incredible – the stately hymn is now a soothing refrain. Even in her dealings with the tougher issues such as heartache (“Breaking You”) are characteristically poignant. Although Heart doesn’t have as many worship songs as her debut, the ones which are included are superb. “Oh My Soul” is a beautiful song of exhortation, pleading with us to stop the lies and to love our God.

Heart is not a merely collection of poetic verse put to music. The music itself is deliciously evocative as we are treated to a tapestry of sounds including 70’s soul, whimsical pop and lazy folk influences. Assad’s vocals are incredibly moving; sometimes delicate, sometimes strong- always captivating. Relying mainly on piano and guitar arrangements, her voice is the glue that holds all the facets of the album together.

Thoughtful, creative, organic. Heart  has it all. I was not expecting something so great. Although she may still be a relative newbie on the scene, Audrey Assad is a seasoned singer-songwriter. Effortlessly chic, aesthetically fresh – it is impossible to not be swept away. Assad has created yet another modern-day masterpiece.