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


Rivers & Robots, Rivers & Robots Presents: Still, Vol. 1
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Rivers & Robots
Rivers & Robots Presents: Still, Vol. 1



Genre(s): Worship / Instrumental
Album length: 16 tracks: 54 minutes, 27 seconds
Street Date: January 13, 2017


READER RATING:   


Hailing from across the pond in Manchester, worship band Rivers & Robots deliver their latest project with Still Volume 1. Jonathan Ogden and David Hailes take a step back from the microphone in this instrumental release (the first in a series by Integrity Music). While the idea of a worship band or artist releasing an instrumental album may not exactly be treading new ground, R&R endeavors to try with all of their signature sound, minus the vocals.

Before diving into details, it should be pointed out that Still Vol.1 did something very well on this album. A huge amount of mass-market instrumentals are floating around out there. These instrumentals are usually created by a few guys with a Casio and some time on their hands. Creating every instrument using a synthesizer or programmer is a terrible trend that has become prevalent in Christian instrumentals. This is the case largely because it's cheap and easy to do. R&R included real instruments--cello, violin and viola to name a few--and sound-wise, the proof is in the pudding. That being said, attempting to shine on any album of mostly hymn and worship cover songs is a daunting and difficult task for any artist.

The album gets going with "King Of My Heart." It becomes clear early on that most of these arrangements are lingering very close to their original composure. But, also, the formula for most every other song present (less so the interludes) is laid out in this opening track. Usually, this formula is a slow beginning with traditional instruments (piano or guitar) with an introduction of electronic sounds a little later as the song builds up and finally closes. "We Have Overcome" differs slightly in that the song starts with light programming arrangements from the beginning. Throughout the album there are three short interludes and it's truly a shame that they are so short. They become an interesting highlight in an often redundant routine. "Interlude 1" has a poppy, light jazz feel to it; "Good Good Father" offers a light blend of acoustic and electric guitars; and "The Lion And The Lamb" continues in the same soft tone. The cover of "Majesty" is another gem that shines. While the recording is somewhat simplistic, a cello complements it, giving it a rich sound. "Boldly I Approach" is a quiet, piano-led song leading into the second interlude. What the listener gets there is a beautiful string arrangement that sounds as if it were taken from a classical recording. "I Exalt Thee" and "Be Still" continue in the same gentle style leading to 90's worship favorite "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever." Again, all of this remains very formulaic and redundant throughout even a first listen. At times, it's reminiscent of an instrumental meant for lulling children to sleep. "Interlude 3," a very short piece, is followed by more of the same in "Saviour Of The World," "Lord Let Your Glory Fall," and "Lord I Need You." Finally, things wrap up with "Revelation Song," and while it does have a lovely string solo, it's too little too late in this long and often uneventful album.

So what's the takeaway? The music as a whole is recorded very well and there are a couple of gems found throughout the 16 tracks, but most of that is lost in slow traditional arrangements of often overplayed worship songs. For an instrumental worship album it does a fine job, but I have a hard time imagining anybody outside of R&R's already established fan base picking this one up.

- Review date: 4/5/17, written by Paul Nave of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Integrity Music
. Album length: 16 tracks: 54 minutes, 27 seconds
. Street Date: January 13, 2017
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. King of My Heart (4:25)
  2. We Have Overcome (4:24)
  3. Interlude 1 (1:37)
  4. Good Good Father (2:51)
  5. The Lion and the Lamb (4:02)
  6. Majesty (2:10)
  7. Boldly I Approach (The Art of Celebration) (3:48)
  8. Interlude 2 (0:49)
  9. I Exalt Thee (5:00)
  10. Be Still (4:38)
  11. I Could Sing of Your Love Forever (3:43)
  12. Interlude 3 (0:45)
  13. Saviour of the World (3:18)
  14. Lord Let Your Glory Fall (3:54)
  15. Lord I Need You (3:06)
  16. Revelation Song (5:57)

 



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