Review: Delirious? Kingdom of Comfort

|PIC1|Rating: 5/5
Distribution: Fierce! Distribution

"Kingdom of Comfort" is the band's most mind-nourishing offering to date, the fruit of their journeys to some of the world's poorest communities and a sign of their maturity in faith and social consciousness. You cannot help but self-reflect on your priorities after hearing this album; the message they hinted at in their last album Mission Bell in 2005 they have made true in this latest offering and these are obviously guys who want to share everything that God has allowed them to realise on their travels in the hope that listeners will be moved to act in the same way they have.

The ethereal first track, also called "Kingdom of Comfort", leaves us in no doubt of their message. Smith's humble and straight-up style makes each song feel as if it is a private confession that he is letting us in on - yet as we listen it becomes our confession too. The main line from the chorus "Save me from the kingdom of comfort where I am king, from my unhealthy lust of material things" is an indictment to the materialistic and the indictment is as much on us Christians as on anyone else - our pursuit of materials is simply holding up the economic structures that are keeping millions in the bondages of social injustice.

There is, rather positively, embedded in the songs not only a challenge but a hope that we will be stirred from our complacency and change our ways for the sake of the people who need us most. And never at any point is music or spiritual substance sacrificed in the name of agenda. "All God's Children" and the closing track "My Soul Sings" are both heavenly and beautiful. The balance is perfect and the result is music that puts substance between the ears and stirs a tearful compassion in the heart.

Delirious? are: Martin Smith, Jon Thatcher, Tim Jupp, Stu G, Paul Evans