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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, 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]



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