Release Date: (March 1, 1996)
Label: Tattoo Records
Producer:

December Hotel
Overall Rating:  ++++

(Sled Dog)

Free Flying Soul is a little less noisy than the Choir's previous album, Speckled Bird, landing somewhere in between the buzz of that album and the darkly ethereal guitar sound of Circle Slide (which after half a decade remains the band's best album). The songwriting is a bit short on fresh ideas this time, and a few too many choruses slip into predictable rock anthem territory, but there also moments of alluringly adventurous intelligence. Lyrically, the songs are a characteristic mix of bizarre imagery ("yellow haired monkeys in the yard"), universal themes (light vs. darkness) and overtly Christian messages ("all the shame in Jesus' name was covered when he died"). The most interesting song is "If You're Listening," the Choir's shadowy rumination on their own need for grace ("I'd rather be forgiven than enlightened"). Surrounded by prettily echoing ambient guitars, and underscored by a noisily thudding and buzzing Trent Reznor-esque bassline, the band frankly admits to egregious imperfections ("If you're listening to me now, I wouldn't blame you anyhow for running me out of town"). The song almost seems like an answer to Nine Inch Nails' similarly produced "Hurt," in which Reznor bemoans his own faults. But while Reznor despairingly warns his friends to stay the hell away from him, the Choir expresses hope for redemption. Often, rock bands tend either to point only at the faults of others (the Angry Young Men paradigm), or to wallow in hopeless self-pity. At their best, the Choir strike a rare balance of hope and humility.

~Darryl Cater

In the late 80's and early 90's we had the Altar Boys and The Choir, two really cool bands on the cutting edge of alternative Christian music. The edge had moved out so much in the past few years that these bands had to change either their music or their philosophy. The Altar Boys (sadly) chose to disband. Not so the Choir. This band has matured quite dramatically, and might - might - be ready to take the baton that PFR so recently and unfortunately passed.

The instrumentation is so far different that it almost seems a sacrilege to compare the bands, but I get the distinct impression that the aim and the heart of the music is quite similar. "Sled Dog" and "Away With the Swine" are probably the most PFR-ish cuts on the album.

I don't want to destroy The Choir's identity and creativity by portraying them as PFR clones, though - The Choir has an identity of their own, and is sure to appeal to quite a different niche. And they have a much more abstract way of painting their verbal pictures.

Free Flying Soul is on par with Sarah Masen's debut on a lyrical level. They paint a picture of the cleansing we get from Jesus' blood in "The Ocean," purified by the tears of time. In true brilliance and beauty, they sing that "I have tasted poison, still I remain restored by centuries of saving seas where the living waters pour." Brilliant! As long as we're drinking from the pure living water, the undefilable water God provides, we will always be pure and holy despite the impurities and poison around. It's when we take a sip from the world that we lose that. And yet even then, all we have to do is return to the ocean of forgiveness the Father offers.

The intro track, "Salamander," Is one of the more metaphorical, saying that we are in a way similar to those small reptiles. It may be a stretch, but in a way, they're right. Salamanders are cold blooded, i.e. they don't generate heat themselves. They absorb heat from their surroundings, and oftentimes spend the day lying on rocks warmed by the sun. We're something like that in our spiritual lives. We don't make our own spirituality - we get it from the Father. Salamander talks about how we sometimes are afraid to stand in the warmth and light of Christ, for fear of what we'll see. But when we "Climb up now from the slippery dark, rest [our] bellies on a sunny rock," we'll realize that the light isn't something to be afraid of, but rather something to be enjoyed and basked in.

One of the initially ugliest songs on the CD is "If You're Listening." It had a sweet lead guitar covered by gentle vocals . . . with the most awful, dissonant, clashing bass rhythms I've ever heard. Bass so off and high in the mix that it sounds like the speakers are shot. But it's just how the Choir chooses to play dissonant chords off of dissonant lyrics to make their point. The song is a penitent cry for forgiveness from the Father, and in tune with the musical quality, it highlights how God's love reaches into the ugliest and darkest corners.

"Slow Spin" has a very eerie sound to it, and a very addictive beat, if somewhat distorted. It is a perfect example of The Choir's savvy for making music out of noise.

Free Flying Soul is hardly the most listenable or upbeat music. It had a very clear dark tone to it. But a very powerful rope of faith ties it all together and provides a powerful sense of hope. This isn't a CD for easy listening - it takes a serious listen to get down to the meat of it. But it's well worth the effort, as these guys have an awful lot of poetic depth in the music and an amazing way of turning sonic discord into perfect harmony.

~David Longenecker