Feedback

Staying true to his reputation as a Christian music maverick, singer/songwriter Derek Webb follows up his lyrically controversial Stockhom Syndrome with an all-instrumental worship project. Feedback offers a (nearly) wordless song-cycle inspired by the Lord’s Prayer, embroidering ambient electronic sounds and folk/rock guitar touches upon melodies often reminiscent of ‘60-era European film soundtracks. Co-written by Webb and wife Sandra McCracken, these compositions shift from moody industrial pieces (“Our Father In Heaven”) to billowing waltzes (“Forgive Us Our Debts…”) and somber, classical-tinged themes (“Lead Us Not Into Temptation…”) The densely layered suite “For Thine Is” builds from a fractured hip-hop groove into a sparkling synth-dominated soundscape that calls out to the faithful to praise and celebrate. The album concludes with the short but uplifting choral number “Amen.” In both the album’s conception and realization, Webb shows real creative nerve by foregoing his strengths as a lyricist and avoiding typical worship music forms.