The Advent of Christmas

Description

The Advent of Christmas is a Christmas album by the Canadian singer and songwriter Matt Maher, released on Essential Records in October 2018, a label under Provident Label Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, distributed in the US by Provident Distribution. The album was produced by Matt Maher and Mitch Park. Arranged by Blaine Barcus. Featuring holiday songs both old and new, the album offers up a fresh take on the familiar sounds of the season.

Multi award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Matt Maher has become renowned for turning out albums that are exquisitely executed and deeply considered and his latest release is no exception despite it being a festive one. Taking the mystery of God becoming human as its general theme, Maher’s Catholic roots are reflected in a new version of the Basque carol «Gabriel’s Message» to set the scene for an album that meditates on Christ’s birth with depth and sincerity. The paradoxically humble and majestic circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth are covered in the likes of «He Shall Reign Forevermore» and «Born On That Day» before a Bublé-styled romp through «Jingle Bells» showcases Maher’s fun side and provides a momentary off-theme diversion. Elsewhere, old chestnuts like «O Come Emmanuel», «The First Noel» and «Hark! The Herald Angels Sing» are deconstructed, augmented and reassembled to avoid the done-to-death trap that many Christmas albums fall into and, as expected, Maher’s seemingly effortless vocals lift each song to a different level with stirring numbers like «Glory (Let There Be Peace)» and «Hope For Everyone» igniting the sense of expectation and hope that would have been present around the time of the first advent. Amy Grant pops up on «Always Carry You» to add further class to proceedings before Maher ends this accomplished release with some well-deserved seasonal schmaltz in «Merry Little Christmas» and «When I Think Of Christmas». [Lins Honeyman, Cross Rhythms, November 2018]

> iTunes

CD tracklist:

01. Gabriel’s Message – 2:56
02. He Shall Reign Forevermore – 2:56
03. Born on That Day – 4:35
04. Jingle Bells – 3:18
05. The First Noel – 4:01
06. Hope for Everyone – 4:22
07. Glory (Let There Be Peace) – 3:35
08. O Come O Come Emmanuel – 4:08
09. Always Carry You (feat. Amy Grant) – 3:46
10. Love Came Down to Bethlehem – 4:21
11. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – 4:13
12. Little Merry Christmas – 3:41
13. When I Think of Christmas – 2:59

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