The Harp and the Bowl

I’ve been reviewing a few recent projects that I have found to bring a new and refreshing perspective to worship music. Brian Johnson’s studio project “Love Came Down” does just that.

I first stumbled onto Brian and Jenn Johnson’s music years ago during a search for chord charts to a song called “Taste and See,” a fabulous song that I heard performed by Isa Couvertier at a IHOP Atlanta One Thing Conference. Brian and Jenn are worship pastors at a Bethel Church in Redding California. This is the home of the Jesus Culture movement and the great music that many have no doubt become familiar with. But I digress.

So I got Brian and Jenn’s “We Believe” and was immediately taken by it. In addition to Jenn’s “Taste and See” and “A Little Longer” there were several of Brian’s tracks, such as “You Have Ravished My Heart” and “Where You Go I’ll Go” that just had a kind of IHOP/Bridal Paradigm/Intercessory Worship kind of feel to them that really grabbed me. I quickly worked these songs into my four hours weekly doing devotional sets at the IHOP Atlanta, but I digress again.

Focus, Scott, focus.

So, at last on to “Love Came Down.” This is an amazing live studio project, much like the “Live at the Banks House” album from United Pursuit that I reviewed a few weeks ago. Like Banks House, the instrumentation and production are sparse, yet crystal clear. Like Banks House, the worship is genuine and infectious. The idea is not to let the production get in the way of the worship.

If you buy the actual CD, it comes with a DVD that gives you further clues about the worship environment that was going on at the time of the recording. I loved seeing the “ordinary worshipers and intercessors,” of all ages that framed the room.

My favorite track is the first track, also the title track, “Love Came Down.” It’s a beautiful song of heart-felt thanksgiving for Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. “Love came down and rescued me, love came down and made me free. I am your, Jesus, I am yours.” Surrender is such a fitting response to one who would lay his life down for you. Rather than me describe this fabulous song further, give listen to the official YouTube clip.


Direct YouTube Link

To fully appreciate the songs on this album, you need listen to it in an atmosphere where you are free to let the songs wash over you, to sink in deeply, where you can be part of the worship. My first few listens through were not as such, listening to it more in background mode, and I wasn't immediately gripped by it. As soon as I had a chance to soak under it, I was completely awestruck, by the heart of worship emanating form these songs. The Holy Spirit was on every song, each gorgeous guitar phrase and the skillfully placed additional instrumentation (grand piano, cello, hammered dulcimer, among others).

Then I put the DVD on, and I was even more amazed that even though this is billed as a live studio recording, it was actually more of a live worship event that happened to be taking place inside a sound studio.(The YouTube clip above is from the DVD.) Having the DVD just made the subsequent listens even more engaging for me.  Brilliant idea. 

In addition to the title track, other favorites include two songs of deep affection “I Really Love You,” “God You’re Beautiful” and the simple cry for revival entitled “Light a Fire.” There really isn’t a weak track on the entire project (11 tracks in all), each being carefully selected and arranged to add effectively to the overall atmosphere of worship.

If you haven’t purchased this album yet, I suggest you get it the old-fashioned hard-copy CD way, so you have the DVD too. But either way, you definitely need to add “Love Came Down” to your must-have list.