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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Inspection Review

The Heart of Heaven

Daniel Van Oss
The Heart of Heaven

Street Date: 2009
Style: Contemporary / Christmas
Artist Website: DanVanOss.com


On any given Sunday at Parkview Church in Iowa City, IA, you can find Daniel Van Oss leading the congregation in worship. Aside from that, Van Oss is also seeking a career in writing and performing music. 2009 marks the release of his very own Christmas album, The Heart of Heaven. It's a collection of heartfelt songs and carols that are peaceful and contemplative, with several of the songs having completely different instruments. While the piano ends up being the main instrument, you'll also hear bass and drums, as well as violins, flutes, a small amount of drum machine and even some tribal and Middle Eastern sounds (including a sitar in his take on "Little Drummer Boy"). "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is even slightly jazzy with its saxophone intro. This results in somewhat of a problem, though. While it's certainly impressive that Van Oss finds ways to incorporate all these different sounds, it almost makes The Heart of Heaven too much of a mixed bag. One song will be strictly vocals and piano, and next thing you know, you've found yourself in the middle of Africa, only to be thrown back into tranquility in the next song. However, this doesn't happen often, as the majority of the album is slower. Almost too slow, really, as at times it just seems to drag on, especially in the songs that are usually more upbeat, like "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Joy To The World" - the latter of which is supposed to be a celebratory song. Other than these, The Heart of Heaven isn't really a bad Christmas album, but most of it is just all something we've heard before in Christmas music (aside from all the Middle Eastern-influenced material). Van Oss is obviously a talented musician, and I would love to hear his own writings, or even a different take on Christmas music, instead of slow song after slow song. But with his musicianship, I anticipate a noteworthy project of his own, personally-penned songs sometime in the future.

- Review date: 12/22/09, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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