Hope Will Rise

Grandeur and humility meet in the tracks of Hope Will Rise, the sophomore album by worship group Warr Acres. The Oklahoma City–based group (formerly called VMusic) puts the twin lead vocals of Kristy Starling and Lael Louthan at the center of its eclectic pop/rock sound. At times, Hope Will Rise harkens back to the wide-eyed spirit of such Jesus Music artists as 2nd Chapter of Acts and Phil Keaggy. There’s a refreshing guilelessness to the testimony heard in tracks like the string-accented “Beautifully Complete” and the piano-centered “Linger.” Starling and Louthan sing with a disarming naturalness, turning “Pulse,” “All Around,” “So Much Greater," and similar tunes into ringing affirmations of faith. Lyrically, the album keeps its message of praise simple and sincere, whether it contemplates God’s majesty (the title track), affirms the compassionate message of the Word (“Light Up the Night”), or offers up a timeless prayer of salvation (“Psalm 27”). Jonathan Thulin's yearning tones add to the impact of “Freedom Fall,” while Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff’s vocals lend a slow-burning fervor to “Lovesick.”