Water and Blood

Description

Water and Blood is the third studio album by the American formed – and later British based – rock band Libsuite (formerly known as Liberation Suite), released in the Europe on Spark Music in 1990, distributed by GMI Records. (Re-issued on Secret Place in 1992, featuring new cover artwork.) The album was produced by Ken Avant and Barry Bynum, with Randy Hill co-producing.

Featuring Howard Lyon on lead and backing vocals; Barry Bynum on lead and rhythm guitar, bass, keyboards, as well as lead and backing vocals; James Yager on keyboards and backing vocals; Jim Hazel om bass, lead and rhythm guitar, and backing vocals; and Randy Hill on drums as well as lead and backing vocals.

Liberation Suite – Water and Blood (re-issue), Secret Place 1992

In the early ’70s a bunch of Jesus Freaks from Texas put together a band to provide backing for their church choir. However, before long they felt called to move to the UK and minister through their music on the streets of Belfast. Thus they became unlikely leading lights of the British Jesus music scene. Only their third album, ‘Water And Blood’ was recorded relatively late in the band’s career at the end of the ’80s. Rumour has it the band were dissatisfied with the sound of the original release but the re-mastered CD shows that it has gracefully stood the test of time and sonically it’s an impressive reissue. The fact that the band arrangements revolve around classic guitar rock sounds, keeping keyboards largely restricted to Hammond means that there are no dated synth sounds to peg the album at a particular moment in time. Some of Barry Bynum’s guitar work is reminiscent of late ’80s rockers like Gary Moore but none the worse for that. Tracks like album opener «Talk To You» could have been written at any time over the last 30 years by the likes of Gerry Rafferty while «Crystal Tears», «Raging Light» and «All Things New» recalls the rock/pop of Boston, Kansas or Petra with their harmony vocals and layered guitars. Overall ‘Water And Blood’ may be something of a period piece but it still shows Jesus music in its rockier form. [Trevor Raggatt, Cross Rhythms, June 2007]

Spark Music 1990, cassette edition

I once read that this band was considered the “Daniel Amos of Britain” (even though the band actually started in Texas) due to them cycling through the same music styles with a high level of quality. If this is true, then this album is kind of equivalent to DA’s 90s period: alt rock and heavy alt rock. The tape opens with a track that reflects late 80s UK alt rock. They bring out some 80s AOR on the second track, and to be honest there are several songs that are closer to hard rock than DA ever got. But they also run through ballads, classic rock, and even a reggae track. The album closes with the hard rock/near metal number «Run Lucifer II». This was technically a reunion album for the band, since their last album was in 1981. Their next album would be in 2002. [Christian Tape Underground, October 31, 2021]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/water-and-blood/260638840)

CD tracklist:

01. Talk To You – 4:30
02. Crystal Tears – 4:05
03. The Warming Light – 4:27
04. Raging Heart – 2:30
05. The Distance – 5:55
06. Emerald Isle – 4:00
07. All Things New – 3:05
08. Climbing Up (This Time Around) – 4:05
09. Everyone’s A Moon – 4:40
10. Run Lucifer II – 3:50

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Spark Music.

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