The Water and the Blood

Sojourn — a musical collective drawn from the Louisville church of the same name — infuses its second volume of updated Isaac Watts hymns with deep-twanging guitars, simmering tempos and passionate vocal performances. The Water and the Blood taps into the palpable longing and reverence present in its source material, then reframes Watts’ exalted words in American roots-music settings. The results are suggestive of Johnny Cash’s final albums in their sense of suffering and triumph, enriched with hints of Daniel Lanois’ atmospheric production ideas. A diverse cast of singers and players render these songs with respect for their sources as well as with a personal sense of salvation. From the moody, blues-tinged atmosphere of “Compel My Heart to Sing” and “Deep In Our Hearts” to the rousing bluegrass feel of “Blest Be the Lamb” and the sweet piano bounce of “Let Your Blood Plead For Me,” Sojourn captures a full spectrum of faith. Especially powerful is the wailing, cathartic treatment given “Death Has Lost Its Sting.”