Gungor: Ghosts Upon the Earth CD Review

Posted by Jeremy on January 2, 2012 in CD Reviews, Featured | 1 comment

Ghost Upon the Earth is the most recent CD release from the group Gungor, fronted by Michael Gungor. Now when I first began to listen to this album, as I do with all albums, I was working while I listened. My initial thoughts were; “I love the variety of music and styles.” Then I began to realize there were some major connections between the songs so instead of listening to it while I worked I sat down and just listened. This is by far the best way to enjoy this album.

When I was a child my mom would have us listen to classical music and draw pictures that came to our heads based off the music. Right from the beginning of this album pictures were coming to mind and they always were tied beautifully to the lyric. As the first song, Let There Be, starts there is no distinguishable time or rhythm which gives this feel of nothing solid. We are experiencing pre-creation. Then the song begins to take form, I can see the Spirit of God hovering over the waters, the lyric “let there be” keeps repeating until the HUGE crescendo where she finally sings “Light.” The music made me feel as if I had been in darkness and I was beginning to see something happening, then there came light.

Move to the next song, and the next phase of creation. Brother Moon starts out musically with dancing flutes and I saw flowers and plants sprouting out of the ground and creatures beginning to move, creation was happening. I love the lyrics of this song, especially when they take terms like “Mother Earth your giving us life” and show God at the center of it by adding “with God’s open had you always provide for us.” God made everything and is in everything, this song does a great job of driving that truth home.

Crags and Clay is a beautiful reflective song of praise to God who made everything and us and finds it beautiful.

From the first notes of The Fall I felt this sad, painful lament. Then the lyrics drive home the fall and it’s effect on creation.

When Death Dies is probably my favorite song on the album. A wonderful response to The Fall, when I first heard the beginning I thought it sounded like Simon & Garfunkel then moves to a driving rock tune. Again musically it takes me to the same place as the lyrics. When death dies, all things live.

Church Bells and Wake up Sleeper are two songs that really complement each other. First a call to children to dance and respond to the death of death, old men get up and dance. Church Bells seems to be a call to those ready to enter the Kingdom, Wake Up Sleeper is a warning to, specifically the religious teachers, but those who are unaware salvation has come. Again there is a lightness in the music of Church Bells and an edge to the music in Wake Up Sleeper, great pairing of music and lyric.

Ezekiel is as passionate cry from the Father petitioning us to come back to him. He gave, his heart his love and we sold our bodies and gave up everything he gave us. I feel the heartache in the music.

Vous Etes Mon Coure (You are My Heart) the Father looks everywhere for us, highest mountain to wooded valley. I felt at peace listing to this one and I think I should knowing that the Father is out there looking to save those he loves.

No, This is Not the End. A celebration of the fact that death here is not the end but the beginning. We will see clearer, breathe bigger and shine brighter, AMEN!!

You Are the Beauty is filled with imagery of things redeemed, all things made for good.

Although it is wonderful to look to the day we are with the Father and Son in paradise, we are here on earth right now and Every Breath is a charge to live wholly sold out to God, every breath for His Glory. Here I am Lord, send me.

As I was thinking about this post I began to wonder if this is what they intended that listeners get out of this album or if I’m just plain crazy. I’m going to try and contact Michael Gungor and ask him, we’ll see