Description
Into Thy Hands is the third and final studio album by the Canadian pop/rock band The Awakening, released on Reunion Records in 1988, manufactured and distributed by Word. The album was recorded January to June 1988 by Richard J. Hutt and band member Andrew Horrocks at Cedartree Recording Studio in Kitchener/Ontario, Canada; and was produced by Hutt with the band co-producing. Additional engineering by Lloyd Walker and Darren Walters. Mixed by Hutt, Horrocks, and Walker. Featuring a cover of “Onward”, a song written by Chris Squire of Yes fame.
Featuring Ian Tanner on lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, and keyboards (as well providing programming); Andrew Horrocks on acoustic and electric guitars, as well as vocals; Allan Powell on bass and percussion; and Mike Powell on drums, percussion, and vocals.
After releasing Into Thy Hands, Reunion Records dropped the band from their roster which eventually led to the break-up of the band in late 1989. In 1992, band members Ian Tanner and Andrew Horrocks self-released an album entitled Counting By Heads recorded under the moniker The Obvious. In the mid-90s, Tanner and Horrocks were signed to the indie label Liquid Disc Records with their new band One Hundred Days.
This was our big shot at making a real album. It was 6 long months in the making, and full of behind the scenes drama. Sadly, by the time we started mixing, we were extremely over-budget and over-schedule, so we had to rush the final portion of making the album. Had we had one more month, we could have made this album a piece of art. The record label wasn’t interested in such things, and I personally suspect, the headaches we put the label through, helped them decide to drop us in early 1989. The album was far too artistically motivated for the 1980’s corporate Christian music scene. It was at least, our one shot at making an expensive album. [A note featured on the band’s Bandcamp site, 2020]
‘Into thy Hands’, The Awakening’s second release on Reunion (after the independent regional success of ‘Two Worlds‘ in their native Canada), avoids overcompensation and the imitative tendency that hurts most bands making their sophomore effort. Where ‘Sanctified‘ drew together a bias toward the progressive sounds defined in bands like Yes and Genesis (before they followed Phil Collins into R&B paradise) and a decidedly memorable pop format, here they neither succumb to formula nor move to safer commercial ground. Electric and unpredictable, yet comfortably accessible thanks to memorable melodies and an avoidance of bombastic excesses, ‘Into Thy Hands’ sidesteps all the expected pitfalls and cliches. The Awakening reveals more artistic depth and daring than ‘Sanctified’ indicates possible.
All this is not to say that aggressive stance necessitates a harder-edged sound, rather the impact is of an often gentler, flowing work. The fascination with Yes doesn’t end with the cover of Chris Squire’s «Onward», or the ‘90125’-sounding «Don’t Wait for Me», as many of the mellower acoustic songs recall Jon Anderson’s solo works and Vangelis collaborations. Thankfully, Ian Tanner’s voice is up to the comparisons and The Awakening’s playing draws inspiration from Yes’ music without becoming imitative.
Lyrically, Tanner’s meditative expressions work together with the music to draw the listener in where the Spirit works with truth and experience. ‘Into Thy Hands’ is a transcendent work. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, August 1988]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Remember Me” – 2:30
A2. “Don’t Wait For Me” – 5:25
A3. “Wrestling in the Jungle” – 4:21
A4. “Thoughtful” – 3:50
A5. “Again” – 4:20
A6. “Lonely Place” – 4:46
Side Two
B1. “Where Is The Love?” – 4:58
B2. “Knife of Life” – 3:55
B3. “Into Thy Hands” – 4:31
B4. “Onward” – 4:39
B5. “Never Say Goodbye” – 4:59
B6. “Clear Day” – 4:16
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Reunion Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://iantanner.bandcamp.com/album/the-awakening-into-thy-hands
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