Still

Description

Still is a studio album by the British worship singer and songwriter Chris Bowater, self-released in 2003, distributed by Kingsway Music. The album was produced and recorded at dB Studios in Lincoln, England. (Also released as an instrumental album.)

Chris has written his share of classics down the years and it says much for his discernment that he finds room on his new studio album for a song by that hugely underrated but powerfully anointed worship leader Godfrey Birtill. The Birtill/Scott song «Looking For Your Presence» is indeed a gem. Elsewhere on this set, produced and programmed by Howard Williams and Chris’ son Daniel at Lincoln’s seemingly always busy dB Studios, and overdubbed in esoteric places like Canada and Portugal, you get a selection of Bowater compositions old (1996’s «Here In The Presence») and new (the moving «Vessels Made Of Clay»), songs by other composers (David Hind penned the title song while Andy Smith and Johnny Markin provide «We’ve Been Crying Out For Mercy») and there are versions of a couple of hymns («O Love That Will Not Let Me Go» and «O Breath Of Life»). A similarity of tempo and mood mar enjoyment slightly but those blessed by Chris’ ministry will want the gifted grandfather’s latest offering. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, November 2003]

Over the years dB Studios have recorded albums for Word, Kingsway and Kevin Mayhew. They have also recorded a veritable torrent of independent projects. In all the myriad of sessions one project which stands out in Dan’s mind is his father’s ‘Still’ album. Explained Dan, “My dad thought he had pretty much hung up his microphone and entered retirement in worship leading. But on the ‘Still’ album he pretty much said ‘this album is for me and my family just to say I am still here, I still love God.’ He wrote out a list of things that he loved and that he is still around. He didn’t need a record label. It wasn’t a militant statement by any means. He just felt that the record companies were looking for younger people now. So we recorded ‘Still’ and it really became an album of, I guess, love, for myself and Howard Williams who is the other part of the production team at dB Studios. A whole load of local musicians, past and present, came in and put their little touches on the album as well as some great musicians that have played on his albums in the past; people like Neil Costello. We had string quartets, we had Dave Fitzgerald and Mike Haughton and some of these great musicians. We created a very, very interesting album. It isn’t necessarily radio friendly but it really put across where my dad’s at and it’s more like his live performances where he really ebbs and flows in-between songs and creates an atmosphere just by going from one song to another. So a lot of the songs actually flow into one another. So that was a really interesting, exciting album.” [Excerpt from “dB Studios: A place of dreams for grassroots Christian musicians”, an article by Tony Cummings featured in Cross Rhythms, June 2008]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/still/270155048)

CD tracklist:

01. We Magnify Your Name
02. Looking For Your Presence
03. Here In The Presence (I Stand In The Presence Of The Lord)
04. I Fear You (Living God)
05. O God, O God
06. Still
07. Jesus, Name That’s As Ointment
08. Receive Our Adoration
09. Face To Face
10. O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
11. Light Of My Life
12. O Breath Of Live
13. We’ve Been Crying Out For Mercy
14. I Will Arise
15. Vessels Made Of Clay

Note: Also released as an instrumental album, simply entitled Still (Instrumental).

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Still (Instrumental)