Shelter

by Vicky Beeching (from the 'emerge' series on Survivor Records)

With opening bars that invite the listener to sit up and pay attention, this seven track album begins with a strong vocal line over a guitar driven melody. The opening song, ‘Yesterday, Today and Forever’, like all of Beeching’s lyrics, mixes an understanding of the transcendent God with a heartfelt appreciation of and response to His immanence. Though not a traditional-style ‘worship’ album, Vicky Beeching invites you to join her as she worships and you can’t help but engage as you listen.

However, there are problems. What is Beeching’s real vocal sound? Tracks 1 and 2 may seem to benefit from the ‘rock-chick’ tone, but the vocal sounds perhaps forced and maybe not quite her own. As the album progresses, track 3 starts to present a much softer but nonetheless powerful vocal that develops throughout the remaining four tracks.

In terms of material, what is here is good and Beeching’s own version of ‘Search me O God’ – which was first heard on Soul Survivor’s ‘People’s Album’ in 1996 – rescues it from that poor rendering and allows the lyrical quality to shine through. You could be forgiven for closing your eyes and starting to think you were at a Vineyard meeting with the typically lively opening, mellow middle and soft-focus ending. It would be refreshing to be shaken by some more of the well blended, British, guitar-based style which Beeching shows she can use to good effect. Vicky Beeching’s real quality will be truly shown in a full 12 tracks and it can only be hoped that such an album will follow soon.

In summary, Shelter is well worth seven shiny round pounds, but needs a better sequel to really establish Vicky Beeching.