Amazing

In January 2002, New Zealand's Parachute Band, composed of members Libby Huirua, Chris de Jong, and Wayne Huirua, released the album Amazing. The project combines contemporary and traditional praise & worship styles, featuring the sound of gentle ballads and R&B, in addition to Polynesian and Maori musical influences. The release ranges from songs penned by the group to those chosen from a vast collection of submitted materials. While the project appeared during the Christian music industry's "worship trend," Parachute Band is not responding to the style's popularity. The band believes that worship music's growing appeal is due to an increased desire for intimacy with God. In fact, Libby Huirua shared with Spin Cycle PR, "Over and over, God refers to us as His bride, and what is the marriage relationship without romance and intimacy? Worship, in a musical sense, is the romance part of our relationship with God. It's our chance to express our love and adoration, wonder and admiration to Him. It's a chance to have our hearts opened up in a miraculous second and have Him respond to us and change us in that instant." Tracks include the tender ballad "I Long to Worship You" and the upbeat, rhythm-driven "Shepherd." Overall, the release promises a collection of praise & worship songs, varied in style and enthusiastic in nature. ~ Ashleigh Kittle