Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Future of Forestry, Awakened to the Sound
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Future of Forestry
Awakened to the Sound

Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Indie / Cinematic / Instrumental
Album length: 12 tracks: 53 minutes, 17 seconds
Street Date: November 10, 2016


READER RATING:   


Eric Owyoung has created a unique and tasteful offering in Future of Forestry's latest album, Awakened to the Sound. Awakened to the Sound is my first experience of Future of Forestry, and it is quite the record to expose anyone to Owyoung's work. It is somewhat difficult to pinpoint its genre; perhaps a worshipful string-soaked movie soundtrack would be a good starting point. This album walks this interesting genre line with tact.

The album starts out hitting on all cylinders in "On Giant's Shoulders." This track features sonorous strings and bombastic percussion behind Eric's triumphant chant, "your heart has brought you to this land, you're standing on a giant's shoulders!" This song also includes the first of a few contributions from Indian musician Suhail Yusuf Khan, who sings in his native language and plays the exotic sarangi on a few of the album tracks. The rest of the record is subdued compared to the incredible first track, but no less lovely. Flowing piano arpeggios form the backbone of the serene "Covers You." This track is another highlight, building from a soft pre-chorus to a dramatic rising chorus. Eric uses a flowing string section to create the beautiful complementary sound to the lyrics describing God wrapping us in his arms.

The first half of the album is chock-full of highlights, from the aftermentioned tracks to "Homeward" and "Horses." "Homeward" makes use of a rich sarangi melody and lullaby lyrics which could be seen as being from the perspective of an earthly or heavenly father singing to his child. Perhaps the most cinematic song on Awakened to the Sound is "Horses," which features a running string section blended with subterranean synthesizers and haunting choir vocals. The choir sings this dark line in Latin, "hodie est dies" or "today is the day." The meaning of this song is unclear, but it more than makes up for ambiguity in lyrics with its foreboding texture.

The second half of Awakened to the Sound stands out less than its opening tracks, but it is still expertly crafted. Tracks 7-12 are paced to allow for reflection, with greater instrumental indulgence than the earlier songs. The following tracks flowed together in my mind during my first few trips through the album though not unpleasantly. "Canyons" is one track that sticks out for it chirpy presentation, but it takes a knock for a vague, repetitive chorus of "it's what you gave, it's how you love, oh-oh, oh-oh." While "Life Begins Today" is the poppiest song on the album with another energetic chorus, the rest of the album slows down becomes climactic, cinematic music.

Awakened to the Sound is a well-done album, exquisitely engineered by the famous Bob Katz. It would be album of the year material if the back half matched the front in energy and creativity. Just as a side note for anyone who cares about sound quality, this album is one of the best-produced pieces of music I have heard recently. It has incredible dynamic changes in volume, so be ready for "On Giant's Sholders" to explode out of your speakers or headphones!

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 1/29/17, written by Isaac Harkness for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 

. Record Label: Swan Song Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 53 minutes, 17 seconds
. Street Date: November 10, 2016
. Buy It: iTunes (Regular)
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3) (MP3)

  1. On Giants Shoulders (4:23)
  2. Covers You (4:50)
  3. Homeward (4:43)
  4. Turn (3:58 )
  5. She Walks In Beauty (3:31)
  6. Horses (4:46)
  7. Rest (4:49)
  8. Edge of the Sea (3:19)
  9. Canyons (3:40)
  10. You Are Love (5:20)
  11. Life Begins Today (4:04)
  12. The Wait is Done (5:44)

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images