Presence

Description

Presence is an instrumental album by the British DJ and electronic dance music composer Andy Hunter, independently released by Hunter in September 2016. It is the first installment in the Presence series, Presence, Vol. 2, Presence, Vol. 3, Presence, Vol. 4, Presence, Vol. 5, Presence, Vol. 6, and Presence, Vol. 7 being the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh installments, respectively.

Andy’s latest project is a multi-media tool designed to help people spend intentional time with God and is available in multiple forms. The most complete is the free Android and Apple app which combines imagery, music and poetry in a slick interface with content added to it as Andy releases more. The imagery is then turned into DVD format with the poetry available in an extras menu and finally the CD presents just the music. The aim of focusing on Scripture and enabling time spent with God does mean that this is not the high energy dance music that Andy is famous for, but it still has his hallmark all over it. The app is split into chapters, each of which explores a theme and Bible verse to go with that theme. The verse is presented along with the song video, a poetry video, the written poem and finally an image. The chapters have titles such as “Sensing Grace” – Matthew 6 v 6, “Light” – Matthew 5 v 13-16, “New” – Isaiah 43 v 18-19, “Life” – John 1 v 1-5 and “The Vision” 1 Thessalonians 5 v 16. The songs are all well-crafted instrumentals with plenty of light and shade – and some cool beats – that are written to directly support the visuals. This does mean that the audio album can seem a little slow to get going and have some over long quiet, downbeat sections where the visuals were doing the talking. These visuals expand on the theme using various means such as text phrases, simple visual story lines or just footage from nature that give space for thought. Don’t expect anything like the Precious Moments DVDs; this is up to date, fast cuts and effects in keeping with the music tracks and provide a great modern way to spend focussed time with God. The DVD also sneaks in Andy’s single «Harmony» featuring Beth Bullock over the credits at the end. The app is free but does require free registration to unlock all the content and as the content can be downloaded it makes a great on the road source of devotional material. The DVD content moves this content into the area of group devotionals and would make a great resource for home group worship times. The CD finds it hardest to stand on its own but would make great background music for devotional times as there is little to distract the mind. [Tim Holden, Cross Rhythms, February 2017]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/presence/1139741259)

CD tracklist:

01. Sensing Grace – 6:17
02. Be Still – 2:28
03. Come To Me – 5:07
04. Transform – 6:01
05. Morphed – 7:15
06. Quiet Voice – 5:47
07. Over The Water – 6:57
08. Send – 3:19
09. New Creation – 4:14
10. Woven – 5:38
11. Maggie May’s Toy – 0:35

Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://andyhunter.bandcamp.com/album/presence